MONTEGO BAY, St James — The rain was no match for Diana Whittingham’s determination to get a mattress for her 14-year-old daughter last Saturday, taking her a step closer to what life was like before Hurricane Melissa unleashed its wrath on her community in Westgreen, St James.

“Even though it has been some months since Hurricane Melissa, a lot of us have suffered tremendously. We have been sleeping on table tops and sitting up in chairs ever since,” she lamented.

“Thanks be to God, my little daughter has a new mattress. Her bed got destroyed totally,” explained Whittingham who also received an electric kettle and other items that will make life just a bit easier.

Also among the items Whittingham and 91 of her neighbours received were doors, microwaves, blenders, stoves, fans, towels, and sheet sets. They benefitted from the benevolence of a group of individuals who came together to fill a gaping need. The team includes former community members Francois and William Anderson — who now live in the United States — and members of the Tallawah Foundation, the brainchild of 20-year-old Kenya and 22-year-old Kai Dear, Jamaican students studying overseas.

“I’m so thankful for the Tallawah team who have made it possible today. Francois and William, I also want to thank them as well for this wonderful work,” said a grateful Whittingham.

Another community resident, Kalric Lee, was equally pleased with the support provided to the community, given the challenges they have had to endure after losing most of their possessions.

“I’m incredibly grateful for this support. For too long after the flood needs like this have been overlooked in our community — and it means a lot to see it finally addressed,” he said.

He too thanked the Andersons and the Tallawah Foundation for their role in helping the community.

“This kind of effort doesn’t just meet an immediate need, it shows that Westgreen families matter,” Lee stressed.

For Kenya Dear, one half of the sibling duo who set up the foundation, the experience has been gratifying.

“It is amazing; even though it is a lot of work, a lot of organisation, it does feel great, honestly,” she told the
Jamaica Observer.

The Tallawah Foundation team, which includes her parents Stephen and Linda Dear, was on hand to distribute the items procured through funds raised by Francois and William, along with items the Dears funded.

“It’s great that we have been able to do something like this,” said Kenya.

She explained that the foundation was established last year, after the Category 5 storm, and its work continues as there are still individuals in need.

“It felt so weird being away from home [at a time when] all our families and everyone we know was home and struggling. We felt very helpless and we wanted to do something, so we started this organisation,” she explained.

Her father Stephen said the Andersons approached him for help to deliver donated items to those in need.

“I put them on to my kids. Francois really made a big donation to the foundation, and we have used those funds. There is nobody that is getting a salary from the foundation. All that is raised, 100 per cent of the funds, goes right back to the people in need,” Stephen stressed.

This is just the latest act of kindness by the foundation.

“From right after the hurricane we started doing a bunch of distributions as soon as we touched ground in Jamaica,” said Kenya.

They have since done work in Seaford Town, Westmoreland; Catherine Mount in St James; and Clarks Town in Trelawny, among other areas.

“We looked at what was the immediate need and we donated in excess of a few hundred tarps — this was immediately after the hurricane. We got tarps to people,” her father Stephen stated.

“We got water, food, we actually did a system where you get rainwater and you filter it. Anybody that has a drain from off their roofs following the hurricane, using our little system, they were able to drink the water. It’s called wine to water,” he added.

More than 90 residents of Westgreen received doors and a range of appliances last Saturday.

Some members of the family behind the Tallawah Foundation, Linda (left), Kenya and Stephen Dear, after a long day of handing out items in Westgreen, St James.