Help Support Our Jamaican Pearl Family After the Hurricane

Why Your Support Matters

My name is Alison Hester, and I’m the General Manager of The Pearl in Wellfleet. For years, our Jamaican staff have been the heartbeat of our restaurant—season after season, they show up with dedication, grit, and warmth that our entire community has come to love.

On October 28th, a devastating hurricane struck Jamaica. Hurricane Melissa tore roofs from homes, destroyed belongings, and left entire communities without power. The people suffering the most right now aren’t strangers — they are my staff, my teammates, and truly my family from The Pearl.

These are the incredible individuals we’re trying to help: Vanessa Bryan, Valecia Bryan, Sanjay Smith, Daniel Blake, Rosheed Dale, Sheryle Ennis-Edwards, Liston Williams, Neil Baker, Roderick Peart, Selvin Williams, Davian Francis, Lisa Daley, and Fitzroy “Tiny” Watson.

Most of them have worked at The Pearl for years. They are the backbone of our kitchen — the hands and hearts behind the food we serve, the steady presence during the busiest nights. I’m sure most of you have pictures of Rosheed and Daniel on your phones, the dancing oyster shuckers!

What They’re Going Through Right now, their families in Jamaica are living in incredibly difficult conditions:
- Roofs torn completely off
- Rooms flooded and destroyed
- Appliances and furniture ruined
- Clothing, bedding, and personal items lost
- Homes still without electricity
— as I’m writing this I know of only one household has power restored so far.

These men and women travel hundreds of miles every year to provide for their families. Now, their families need us. Our Goal I’m hoping to raise $13,000, enough to give each worker $1,000 to begin fixing roofs, replacing essentials, and restoring some stability during an unimaginably hard time. I wish I could do it alone — but I can’t.

So I’m turning to our community, the people who know their faces and feel their impact. A Special Thank You I also want to give a heartfelt thank-you to The Greg Hill Foundation for helping amplify this message and support these incredible people. Their generosity and willingness to shine a light on this effort means more than words can express.

Every Dollar Helps Every dollar raised goes directly to the workers listed above. Even a small contribution can help rebuild a roof, replace a bed, or bring comfort to a family that’s been living in darkness since the storm. Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring. And thank you for standing with my Pearl family during their time of need.

With gratitude, Alison Hester The Pearl Restaurant, Wellfleet, MA