‘Help is on the way’: N.S grocery store sets up donation drive for those impacted by Hurricane Melissa

Vanessa Wright

When the strongest storm to ever hit Jamaica made landfall Tuesday afternoon, it touched the heart strings of Shawn Montique, the owner of Gloria’s International Grocery Store in Dartmouth, N.S.

“It’s very heartbreaking. I know right now there are people still out of electricity. Some people have lost their homes. They don’t know what to do. I’ve seen cars fully submerged under water,” says Montique. “We just could not sit here idle and do nothing. We had to do something.”

On Wednesday morning, Montique launched “Rays of Hope,” a relief drive that hopes to collect donations to send to families affected by Hurricane Melissa.

“I know that there’s a lot of people in Halifax, Canada at large, who would like to help. So, we’re just setting up a platform in which they can do so easily,” he says.

Montique says they’re accepting non-perishable food items, clothing and monetary donations.

“There’s no limit to what people can donate. I know that people are out of electricity. They’ve lost their equipment and stuff like that. So, whatever people feel that can help in this way, we’re accepting whatever we can.”

The grocery store opened in 2022 and has given Halifax’s Caribbean community access to products they would only otherwise find back home.

“Most of the things that we sell here comes from Jamaica, comes from the hard-working farmers that now lost all their crops, comes from people who produce (our) snacks and beverages,” says Montique. “They (supported) me over the years, giving me these things for the diaspora that miss them.”

Victor Miller, a customer who donated to the relief drive, says he is doing what he can to support his loved ones back home.

“I have lots of family in Jamaica. Everybody needs help down there. So, I’m going to try the best I can,” says Miller. “I hope everything is all right for them. I’m praying for them.”

“The last shipment should leave here by Nov. 30. So, we’re trying to move things as fast as possible. So, people who are really in need of help can get in as soon as they possibly can,” says Montique. “Help is on the way and it’s coming from Halifax, it’s coming from Dartmouth, its coming from Canada, it’s coming from all of us to all of you that is impacted.”