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Reggae star Richie Stephens took matters into his own hands last Saturday, driving six hours to Westmoreland to deliver a truckload of food, water, and essentials to residents devastated by Hurricane Melissa.
Hurricane Melissa left 45 dead and tens of thousands of homes damaged, and seeing the destruction online pushed Stephens into action.
“When I saw how badly my hometown was hit, I knew I had to move fast,” he said, calling the experience “urgent, emotional, and necessary.”
Joined by family and friends, Stephens spent the day hand-delivering supplies, praising the community for staying calm and cooperative despite the chaos.
Stephens, a longtime champion of his community, said nothing prepared him for the devastation he saw. “It’s like war on TV. Homes dismantled… it’s disheartening,” he shared, recalling an elderly woman telling him she had nowhere to live.
Looking ahead, Stephens is focused on long-term recovery and inspiring others to help.
He’ll take the cause to New York on December 12, performing at the Hurricane Relief Charity Concert alongside Shaggy, Inner Circle, TOK, and Kes the Band.
“After every setback, there’s a comeback,” he said. “We just have to make sure the comeback is successful.”