Update: Monday, Nov. 3 – Jeanine Henderson-Kitching said they have received a text from Richard and Diane Kitching and they are getting by and have food, water and shelter.
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A Stratford couple have started a GoFundMe page while continuing efforts to establish contact with family members in hurricane-ravaged Jamaica.
Jason Kitching and wife Jeanine Henderson-Kitching have not heard from Jason’s parents, Richard and Diane, since the storm hit.
Fortunately, a neighbour who lives nearby in their Jamaican community saw Richard and Diane after the hurricane and they are okay.
They retired to Jamaica and built a dream home in Westmoreland Parish.
Henderson-Kitching, owner of Infinity Dance Studio in Stratford, said the Category 5 storm devastated the country.
“They live the dream. Every time we visit them, they talk about how they pinch themselves every day and they can’t believe this is their life. They are so grateful.”
Hurricane Melissa, believed to be the strongest storm to hit the Caribbean island, has shattered the family’s dream.
Jason was in contact and getting hourly updates from his mom as the storm approached.
His last contact was when the storm hit the area and his parents were trying to make it to a storm shelter when the phone died.
There has been no contact since that phone call.
The home has been a gathering place for extended family members over the years.
Jeanine talked to the Canadian embassy in Jamaica, and they urged patience in getting updates.
“We don’t know if they have food, water. And it’s not just them, it’s everybody.”
The local community look after each other and the bulk of cleanup will be neighbours helping neighbours, Jeanine said, many left with just the clothes on their backs.
“In Jamaica, everyone takes care of each other.”
Though in dire straits, the Jamaican spirit and approach to life will serve residents well in what will amount to a long and arduous recovery, Jeanine said.
A GoFundMe account has been setup to raise funds for the Kitching family rebuild.
“They built it once, they can do it again, with our help.”
A link to donate is available at Jeanine Henderson Kitching’s personal Facebook page.
