The World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank estimate physical damage to Jamaica is around CAD$12 billion.
By the time the storm hit, some of Raymont’s employees had already travelled home and others were trying to get back.
“They were scheduled on a flight that got postponed, and then cancelled, and you could see the worry in their eyes,” Raymont said. “They’re showing me videos of water up to the eavestroughs of the houses, or houses with roofs torn off. It almost makes you speechless.”
That’s when Raymont turned to the community to raise money for these workers.
It started with a social media post, and the community took it from there, raising more than $4,000 in less than a day, and more than $15,000 overall.
“The community response has been awesome,” Raymont said. “Some businesses we deal with started doing their own fundraisers to help us out, and the community just rallied around these guys.”
Since the storm passed, all of Raymont’s employees have made it back to Jamaica safely.
He’s checked in with his workers, who are in good spirits despite some of the work ahead of them.
“You ask them all how they’re doing, and their response is everyone is okay, so everything is good,” Raymont said.
Anyone interested in contributing to the fundraiser can send an e-transfer to raymontsberries@live.com.
Top photo: European Union, Copernicus Sentinel Imagery.