On November 3, the Caribbean Student Association (CSA) hosted a fundraiser to support relief efforts for Hurricane Melissa. The Category 5, which lasted from October 21 to November 4, struck multiple islands in the Caribbean, causing severe flooding, collapsed infrastructure, and numerous casualties. According to the UN, it also displaced or forced evacuation of over 778,000 people, and exposed more than three million people to life-threatening conditions.
“It was really hard because while my body was physically at Milton, my mind was in Jamaica and praying for my family,” said Kaysia Maddix ’26, a Co-Head of CSA from Kingston, Jamaica. “I am sure I speak for the entirety of the Jamaican community in saying this, but it was so rough seeing the aftermath and seeing the place that we call our home severely damaged and unable to help.”
Although she could not be with her family during this time of grief, the fundraiser allowed her to make a difference from across the world.
During the week of November 10-14, CSA set up a fundraising table in the most populated part of campus–the Student Center–and they ensured they always had someone behind the table, allowing students and faculty to donate anytime using cash or their IAs. The club’s goal was to raise as much money as possible to provide relief aid for the damage done in Jamaica and for those affected.
“With the fundraiser, we hoped that the Milton community would support us and show out for us,” Maddix said. “It’s no surprise that they did that because not only did we manage to make our goal of $10,000, we also surpassed it.” The entirety of the funds raised will go to American Friends of Jamaica, an organization dedicated to providing relief and rebuilding the area.
Sissi Ma ’26 said, “I'm just really impressed at how successful it went, and I think it really underlines the power of our community and how there is so much possibility with fundraising. When everyone in the community pitches in, it can make such a difference.” Many people, including Ma, have friends or family members from Jamaica, and the news of the hurricane sparked apprehension among them. However, there were also many others who were not as conscious of the situation.
In a poll of 25 students, 22 of them reported being aware of the hurricane. However, out of those 22 students, only 10 of them were confident that they were well-educated on the details of the disaster. Luka Buchheim ’27 explained, “there was not enough coverage on what happened in Jamaica. School-wise, we had a presentation on it, but I wish more people knew more about the devastation. I think that this awareness could have inspired more people to donate.”
Similarly, Philip Suk ’27 said, “I knew that it was happening, but I didn't know the magnitude of the situation.” He suggested that adding more fundraising stations could be beneficial, allowing CSA to reach a wider audience.
Beyond fundraising, CSA also supported its members during this hardship. Maddix said, “this was a very real thing for us; families and friends were affected, the place we love and call home was severely affected, and many people lost their lives. And with knowing all that, we so badly wanted to help our community.” She explained, “the fundraiser was a good tool for that.”
Maddix said, “as tragic as this event was, it allowed us to see the community that CSA has made; we’re more than just a club and the CSA board is more than just people with Caribbean roots—we’re a family.”