Manager at Young’s Lobster Pound in Belfast fundraises for family and friends in Jamaica

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - Ever since Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica, people are unsure about when they’ll see their homes, churches and schools rebuilt.

For one Belfast man, it’s personal and he’s doing everything he can to help his family and friends feel at home again.

Nickalos Hemley has called Maine his home since 2016 after his uncle invited him to work at Young’s Lobster pound in Belfast.

Now, after finding his passion and community he does what he loves every day as a manager at the lobster pound, feeding the community and making connections.

However, he’s now putting in work another way.

Gathering funds to help his family and friends who were front and center of Hurricane Melissa.

“It was devastating because imagine this is where you’re from and then you hear that the hurricane is coming and it’s coming directly from that end and then when it does come you can’t hear from nobody for days not weeks, days because I hadn’t heard from my mom for like three days,” said Hemley.

Worrying and waiting to get connected after the storm hit his hometown Black River, one of the hardest hit areas, Hemley knew things would never be the same.

“They’re telling me that the house is gone, the school is gone, the hospital is gone,” said Hemley.

He finally heard from his mother.

However the search is still underway for so many others including a cousin of his.

In the meantime he’s praying and waiting to hear updates but felt he needed to share the depths of the devastation and do something to help.

He created a Go-Fund-Me which sends relief to his hometown to help get food, water and more to rebuild.

Extended family and friends here in Maine have helped spread the word.

All Hemley wants to do is ensure his family and friends aren’t left behind.

He plans to make a trip home and put his boots on the ground himself because he understands this is just the beginning of the road to recovery.

“The storm has passed but it hasn’t passed in terms of rebuilding, restructuring all these things, it’s going to be years, it’s going to be years,” said Hemley.

To donate to the relief effort follow the link.

Hemley said any amount is greatly appreciated.