When Hurricane Melissa battered the island of Jamaica as a Category 5 storm on Oct. 28, the small island — just 50 miles wide and 145 miles long — was devastated by the high-force winds mowing down homes and businesses, destroying vital farmland, all but flattening the power grid and causing the worst kind of devastation, injuries, loss of human life and the question mark of missing citizens.
Leo Daunt and his compatriots at the Montauk Chamber of Commerce decided to do something about it.
Within days of Hurricane Melissa’s brutal wake, a Go Fund Me was formed to help the people of Jamaica in their time of need because, says Daunt, current president of the Chamber, the Jamaican community has always helped out Montauk.
“I was sitting around with the guys who work here on H2 visas who are from Jamaica and have family there, talking about how devastated Jamaica was from this. These guys couldn’t get in touch with their relatives and, you know, you’re like how can I help?” says Daunt, the third generation of his family to run the Montauk motel. “These guys work so hard for us all summer and treat the place like it’s their own business. And I know if anything happened here, they’d be the first to help.”
Turned out, there were more in Montauk thinking like Daunt. One of those other local business owners was Carlos Real of Real Hospitality Inc., whose seven-year-old business supplies local restaurants and hotels with staff.
“I run a small hospitality company in Montauk and essentially I help hotels find staff. A big part of the community in Montauk is the Jamaican workforce,” says Real. “When I heard how bad the hurricane was and personally knowing so many people from there, it was a no brainer to see what kind of efforts we could make together.”
The goal is to raise at least $20,000, and so far they’ve garnered around $12,000. All will be used to buy supplies and cover the cost of shipping it all to Jamaica. And as many of the workers affected on H2 visas are returning to the island this month, they will be on hand to distribute the aid themselves.
“It’s all going to the hands of the people who help the Montauk community. When you give, you’re not giving to some big corporation and you can’t track where the money goes,” says Daunt. “Every single dollar spent on food or shipping will be transparent.”
From the Chamber of Commerce to the local Montauk IGA to Shagwong Tavern, collective efforts are in the works to help Montauk’s significant population of Jamaicans who work and live there, both on H2 work visas and as year-round residents and citizens.
As of this writing, much of the country is without electricity, and flooding and blocked roads have created formidable challenges to relief efforts. Thousands still remain in shelters. According to the United Nations, nearly 5 million metric tons of debris needed to be cleared after the storm — about the equivalent of 500,000 truckloads. Many communities remain cut-off from outside contact.
Montauk has long welcomed a significant population of Jamaicans into the fold. Although no statistics were available from the federal Census Bureau or the Town of East Hampton, Jamaicans make up an important part of the town, from summer workers on H2 visas to full-time citizens who live and work year-round here, like Garfield Lewis, long-time chef at the Shagwong who organized their clothing and food drive at the well-loved tavern.
Other efforts in the works include a non-perishable food drive at IGA, who are working to collect barrels of food in conjunction with the Chamber effort.
“The reality is the community that thrives here is dependent on these pockets of people like the Jamaican community. Montauk couldn’t be what it is without them,” says Daunt. “They are really hardworking, salt of the earth, amazing people who are here.”
To contribute to the Montauk effort to aid Jamaica, click here. To donate new or clean and in good condition clothing or non-perishable goods, head to the Shagwong at 774 Montauk Highway. To purchase and donate non-perishable items at the IGA, head to their location at 654 Montauk Highway.
