Hampton Bays Man Leads Relief Efforts for Hurricane-Devastated Hometown in Jamaica

“Out of many, one people.”

Those five words are familiar to anyone who is from or has visited Jamaica — it’s the national motto of the Caribbean island that is still reeling after Hurricane Melissa made landfall there on October 28. The Category 5 storm, with sustained winds of 185 mph, caused massive devastation on the island, particularly in the communities that are part of St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland parishes.

In the days and weeks since, people from those communities and with loved ones there have come together to take part in the recovery effort, showing the meaning behind the country’s motto.

Hampton Bays resident Orvil Atkinson is one of those people.

Atkinson, 34, has lived in the area since 2018, when he came to the country on a summer work program, taking a job with Hampton Coffee Company. He’s been here since, and has thrived.

He climbed the ranks in the company, owned by Jason and Theresa Belkin, after starting as a barista, and became a U.S. citizen. He’s now Hampton Coffee’s first-ever facilities manager, in charge of keeping all of the company’s cafés across the North and South forks working, and overseeing renovations. He’s also taken over for Jason as the lead manager for new café openings, doing everything from sourcing materials and contractors to managing the job on his own.

While Atkinson’s home is on the East End now, his heart remains in his hometown of Balaclava, in St. Elizabeth Parish. At the end of last month, he watched the news coverage of Hurricane Melissa in agony. The storm tore through his small community, which is still home to his mother, Annette Edwards, and where Atkinson owns a home that he purchased recently.

His home survived with only minor damage, but seeing the devastation the storm wrought on the homes of his friends and neighbors, Atkinson felt compelled to act.

He started a GoFundMe page, with his friend Demson Salmon, to raise money for relief and rebuilding efforts in Balaclava. Money will go toward purchasing and distributing food, water and other necessities, as well as purchasing tarps, roofing materials and other tools needed for repair. Special emphasis will be on helping the elderly, single parents and low-income families in need of support.

“This is a community of around 2,500, 3,000 people — it’s a small community,” Atkinson said. “A lot of people lost their farms, their roofs, their houses. It’s painful to see these things on TV.”

Atkinson has been in close contact with his mother, who is keeping him informed about what’s needed, and will be in charge of distributing the funds.

He said that because Balaclava is a smaller community, it’s taking longer for necessary supplies to arrive there, which is why putting money directly into the hands of people who need it is the most effective way to help them.

Jason Belkin commended his longtime employee for putting together the relief effort from afar, pointing out that Atkinson went about it quietly and diligently, in keeping with his personality.

“He has always been such a hard worker and dedicated to improving himself and growing literally every day,” Belkin said. “He didn’t tell any of us at work about his GoFundMe — he’s not one to ask for help — so that’s why I thought we could help him get the word out more. The funds he’s raising are actually going to make a real impact on people in his community in Jamaica.”

Atkinson said that Jamaican people are resilient, having been through so many hurricanes before, although he admitted that the degree of devastation Melissa caused will have long-lasting effects, particularly in his home parish.

“St. Elizabeth is called the breadbasket of Jamaica,” Atkinson said. “It contributes a lot to the entire country as a whole.”

Because so many crops were destroyed by the storm, Atkinson said it will take a long time for the country to recover economically. Still, he has faith that the people will pull together.

“Everyone is together, and they’re always the light in every disaster,” he said. “In Jamaica, that’s who we are. People have lost their homes, but they’re still outside, laughing, talking to friends — they’re grateful. Everybody comes together and helps each other.”

While Atkinson can’t be there alongside them in person, he said he’s doing what he can from afar.

“I’m just trying to play my part of togetherness and looking out for each other,” he said. “I’m just trying to help people who really need help in my area.”

For more information or to donate, go to gofundme.com/f/help-balaclava-and-recover-from-hurricane-melissa.