The spirit of Thanksgiving arrived early at the Island Inn on Saturday, as Islanders turned out for a buffet meal to support Jamaican relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.
The spirit of Thanksgiving arrived early at the Island Inn on Saturday, as Islanders turned out for a buffet meal to support Jamaican relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.
The event was called Donate, Dine and Dance, and it brought together over 15 Island chefs preparing signature meals and DJ Dern spinning the tunes.
As of Monday morning, over $8,000 was raised, according to event co-organizer Kharma Finley-Wallace.
DJ Dern making music.
DJ Dern making music.
“We have such a huge [Jamaican] community,” she said at the event. “I was like, we have to do something for everybody. Everyone has lost something or they know someone who has.”
Chefs included Winston Christie from Winston’s Kitchen, Chef Ting of Black Joy Kitchen, Juli Vanderhoop of Orange Peel Bakery, Deon and Emily Thomas, Jimmy and Rachel Alvarado of TigerHawk Sandwich Co., Canieka Fleming from Chef Canieka Catering and more.
The buffet spread featured traditional Jamaican food such as Mannish water, rice and peas and jerk chicken, along with other fan favorites such as mac and cheese and chicken enchiladas. Jamaican sorrel with rum was also served as a drink.
The money will be sent to Young Women and Men of Purpose, an organization doing boots on the ground work in Jamaica to help restore the community. The organization was chosen by Mr. Thomas, who experienced hurricanes growing up in Jamaica. However, the magnitude of Hurricane Melissa is on another level, he said.
Good food, good cause.
Good food, good cause.
“I’ve never [seen] a devastation of this magnitude and it took that, really, to draw all of us together,” he said. “I’m pleased to see the response of other Islanders in all walks from whatever discipline. So it’s great, but it’s never enough. We can say whatever we want, but the people on the ground who are effected, they do not think that. They do not think that the help is coming fast enough.”
The Alvarados praised the community of chefs and other volunteers who made the event a success.
“This wouldn’t have come together without the help of all the chefs and restaurants that really took the time and provided all the food,” Mr. Alvarado said.
“A lot of people were hit really hard over there,” Mr. Alvarado continued. “This event wasn’t about us. It was about supporting the people who support us every single day.”
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