Loomis nonprofit raises $38K toward Hurricane Melissa relief

Loomis-based nonprofit One Love Alliance has raised $38,049 toward its goal of $50,000 for Hurricane Melissa relief. Melissa developed into a tropical storm on Oct. 21 and grew into a Category 5 hurricane on Oct. 28 before reaching landfall in Jamaica. One wind gust reached a record 252 mph, according to dropsonde data. There were 102 fatalities and an estimated $10 billion in damage. One Love Alliance raised more than $25,000 in just its first few days through a Zeffy campaign, including two anonymous donations of $5,000 each and two more for $3,000 and $2,000. The nonprofit quickly deployed five Starlink units to restore communication in some of the hardest-hit areas, according to an email to the Auburn Journal. Volunteers traveled through devastated communities to assess needs and deliver supplies. With communication restored, One Love Alliance shifted efforts toward cleanup and rebuilding homes for families who lost everything. Volunteer groups totaling roughly 60 so far have cleared mud out of homes and torn off the remainder of what was left of roofs following the hurricane. Pads are being cleared and readied for rebuild. Another group from One Love Alliance is going to Jamaica this month with two more groups scheduled in February. Donations can be made through the nonprofit's Zeffy page at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/8714fc95-6fbd-46b3-bd76-a07a3ef433db, which doesn't take platform fees and covers all transaction and credit card fees, so nonprofits receive 100 percent of the donation.