Students Rally in Support of Hurricane Relief
Veterinary community members initiate donation drive to gather essential items.
On October 28, 2025, Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica and devastated local communities in the southwestern portion of the island.
St. Matthew’s University School of Veterinary Medicine (SMUSVM) students and faculty on Grand Cayman were deeply impacted by the reported suffering, and by the experiences of friends and family living in Jamaica, some of whom lost nearly everything.
In response, they quickly mobilized and began gathering essential items for those struggling to live and rebuild in the aftermath of the hurricane.
Beneficially, members of the Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) and Shelter Medicine Club had pre-existing experience managing donation drives for the Grand Cayman Humane Society, and were able to support and organize the growing efforts by setting up a centralized donation location and sharing mass emails to inform the entire student body. They also created a list of most-needed items, sourced from talking to contacts on-site in Jamaica.
Once gathered, Jared and Dr. Samantha Shields, Dean of Veterinary Medicine, brought the items to an organization that is shipping to those in need in Jamaica.
SMUSVM would like to truly thank all students and faculty who donated and helped organize this drive in support of our Caribbean neighbors. It is inspiring to know that both current and future generations of veterinary experts are willing to step up and act in support of those in need of care!
If you would like to donate in support of those impacted by Hurricane Melissa, here is a list of options to consider: