Two Alpha Kappa Alpha Line Sisters Deliver Grassroots Relief and Aid to Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa

When Hurricane Melissa swept through Jamaica, devastating parts of Manchester and surrounding parishes, two members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, chose not to watch the disaster from afar.

Instead, line sisters Ashlee Brown and Saroja Cuffey of the Zeta Nu Omega Chapter traveled directly to the island, turning a personal trip into a focused relief mission. Carrying three suitcases filled with donated supplies gathered from friends, family, and community supporters, the women delivered essentials to families facing the immediate aftermath of the storm. Their efforts brought direct assistance to residents in remote and heavily impacted communities, where infrastructure damage and power outages had slowed traditional aid distribution.

For Brown, a journalist with deep family roots in Jamaica, the trip served a dual purpose. In addition to distributing supplies, she documented the human experience of the storm by interviewing 14 local residents, including farmers, elders, and families whose homes and livelihoods were affected. Her reporting also led her into conversations with national leaders such as Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Minister of Agriculture Floyd Green, and Digicel CEO Stephen Murad, offering insight into the government’s long-term recovery plans and the challenges of climate resilience on the island.

Marking her 30th birthday through service, Brown described the journey as humbling and transformative, an experience that strengthened her commitment to both amplifying community voices and supporting ongoing recovery efforts. Together, she and Cuffey plan to remain engaged as Jamaica rebuilds, demonstrating the enduring impact of sisterhood, service, and global Black connection.

Watch the full recap video below:

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