Travel advisors rally to help colleague after hurricane devastates Jamaican home

When Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Santa Cruz in St. Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica, on October 28, it left widespread devastation. 

For one Canadian travel advisor, Judith Blair, the Category 5 storm struck her family's historic home and the close-knit community where they've lived for nearly three centuries.

Blair, a Jamaica and destination wedding specialist with Boutique Travel Services for seven years, watched helplessly from her Mississauga, ON home as the hurricane tore through just 30 minutes north of Jamaica's south coast—directly over her family's property in Santa Cruz.

Blair's father, in his 80s, still lives in the family home and the damage was devastating. With no electricity and limited access to building materials, at inflated prices, the recovery seemed overwhelming. 

But the family mobilized quickly. Blair's brother Robert, a Kingston-area firefighter who worked through the storm, gathered materials and workers to tackle repairs. 

Her sister Dionne, a seamstress whose shop mercifully stayed dry, coordinated cleanup efforts with volunteers.

Travel steps in 

Back in Canada, Blair's travel family also rallied. Blair's colleague and friend Corinne Daly was determined to help, particularly after she learned about the family's generations-long legacy of service to their community. 

To help with the recovery efforts, Daly launched a GoFundMe campaign. 

"I thought I knew Judith pretty well, but since the hurricane, I've gotten to know even more about her life and family in her town of Santa Cruz," said Daly, a fellow independent consultant with Boutique Travel Services since 2016.

The fundraising page details the extent of the damage: Blair house is "just under 300 years old and has weathered so many storms, but this was different," Daly writes. 

"The roof had to be replaced and everything inside is soaked through. They lost several fruit trees and bushes as well."

Blair's family has a strong reputation for engaging in community activities. 

Her late mother, a church deacon, established the "Church Kitchen"—a community program that feeds congregants after services and delivers meals to those unable to attend. 

"Her sister, Dionne is an Elder and has her own little church as well. They still run the Church Kitchen which is open to everyone," Daly says. "They also have an outreach program. They have volunteers who check on anyone who is shut in or elderly and take care of whatever they need like meals, cleaning, laundry or just companionship."

"True community spirit"

Even in crisis, the family's generosity continued.

"Her Dad's house had several fruit trees blown down and he has been saving as much as he can and taking it to the neighbours," Daly notes. "That is true community spirit."

The response to the GoFundMe campaign, which is still live, was swift. 

As of Thursday morning (Nov. 13), it had raised $1,866 toward a $2,600 goal. Colleagues have also donated valuable supplies for Blair to bring to Jamaica. 

Blair plans to use any remaining funds to help the Church Kitchen feed displaced community members.

Helping hands

Laurie Keith, owner of Boutique Travel Services, kept the fundraiser secret until presenting Blair with the donations on Nov. 9, just one day before her scheduled departure to Kingston.

"In our industry, we're a community, a family, a group of friends and colleagues who help each other out," Keith said. 

The GoFundMe remains open for donations as Blair continues her recovery mission through November 18. Click here to contribute. 

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