Two Lowcountry groups have teamed up to assist residents in Jamaica who are still recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa last month. One has profound Jamaican origins.
“Falmouth is home to so many people we love,” said Dave Brisacher, the founder of the Livity Foundation and a Charleston native.
“When we saw how hard Hurricane Melissa hit and how families were left without something as basic as clean water, we knew we had to act.”
Brisacher, a reggae performer, established the Livity Foundation in 2019 with the help of friend and fellow musician Ky-Mani Marley, son of the famous Bob Marley. Their purpose is to empower communities via initiatives that promote environmental resilience, wellness, athletics, and the arts. They aim to assist both local and worldwide groups in need.
The nonprofit collaborates with Water Mission, also of North Charleston, to supply safe drinking water to people in Falmouth, Jamaica. They installed two emergency safe water treatment facilities along the Martha Brae River. These devices will deliver clean drinking water to up to 10,000 people per day.
“We are grateful for our partnership with The Livity Foundation,” said Brock Kreitzberg, senior director of disaster response at Water Mission.
“Their relationships in Jamaica and familiarity with the people and community allowed us to accelerate our response.”
Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica on October 28th as a devastating category five storm. 45 individuals were murdered, and the national island’s infrastructure was destroyed.
On Saturday, November 22nd, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., a concert fundraiser will be hosted in North Charleston’s Navy Yard. Darryl McDaniels of Run-DMC will deliver a special performance.
