BVI Telethon Raises Over $100K
A telethon in the British Virgin Islands has raised more than US$106,000, with further pledges expected, to support recovery in Jamaica and Haiti after Hurricane Melissa. Organisers say the funds—collected with help from local groups including the Lions Club, Rotary, the Red Cross and the BVI Christian Council—demonstrate strong regional solidarity during a humanitarian crisis.
A telethon organised in the British Virgin Islands has raised more than US$106,000, with additional pledges still coming in, to support relief efforts in Jamaica and Haiti following Hurricane Melissa. The broadcast brought together local organisations including the Lions Club, Rotary, the Red Cross and the BVI Christian Council.
Organisers said donations were steady throughout the event and ultimately surpassed expectations, reflecting the compassion of Virgin Islanders and longstanding regional ties. Hurricane Melissa, which struck last week as a powerful Category 5 storm, produced torrential rains, widespread flooding and destructive winds across parts of the Caribbean.
In Jamaica and Haiti the storm flattened homes, damaged infrastructure and displaced thousands of families, creating urgent needs for shelter, food, medical care and clean water. Funds raised through the BVI telethon will be distributed to Rotary and Lions Clubs and Red Cross chapters in Jamaica and Haiti.
Those partner organisations will be responsible for directing the money to priority humanitarian needs on the ground, organisers said. The BVI Red Cross also announced plans to launch a separate appeal for Cuba, which sustained damage during Melissa’s passage. Rotary officials explained that because of the United States embargo on Cuba their organisation is restricted from sending donations directly to the island.
The international Red Cross, which is not bound by those restrictions, will therefore manage the Cuba relief appeal independently. For many residents of the BVI, the telethon carried personal resonance: close family links across the region mean damage in neighbouring islands is felt here.
Local charities and faith groups that co-hosted the event emphasised that raising funds quickly helps meet immediate needs while establishing channels for longer-term recovery work. Organisers said they will continue to accept pledges and coordinate with partner agencies to ensure transparent distribution of funds.
They also thanked the community for its generosity and urged residents to stay informed through official announcements about further fundraising and volunteer opportunities. Scenes from the devastation in Jamaica were widely circulated during the telethon (Photo credit: Ricardo Makyn/AFP via Getty Images).
Primary source: BVI News