'One Love For Jamaica:' Students Rally For Hurricane Melissa Relief Fund With Event On Sunday

GREAT NECK, NY — Students Abigail Podwall and Christos Raptis are preparing for a fundraiser on Sunday to support Northwell Health’s Hurricane Melissa Relief Fund, which provides medical staff, equipment, and supplies to those who are injured, displaced, and in need of medical care in Jamaica.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in New Hope, Jamaica, on Oct. 28 as a catastrophic Category 5 storm with winds of 185 mph, forecasters said.

Podwall, junior at Great Neck North High School, and Raptis, junior at New Hyde Park Memorial, have partnered with Natasha Neary, an Equinox gym instructor and Broadway dancer from Jamaica, and DJ Funk, her son, to have a dance party.

The students have a goal to raise $3,000 for the Northwell Global Health Fund.

Neary is also an artist who is auctioning and raffling her artwork, with proceeds going to the hurricane relief.

Podwall said she got involved with the Northwell Global Health Initiative and its hurricane relief program through her mother, who is a physician at Northwell. This is her second fundraiser for the organization, with the first for Ukraine relief.

"I find it very important to help others, especially the Jamaicans in this time of need, and wanted to participate in the effort to get them much-needed medical care," she said.

Raptis said he actively supports his community with drives and fundraising efforts. He also assists with initiatives through the Nassau County Medical Society and the Nassau Academy of Medicine.

He said he hopes the fundraiser raises donations to support the people of Jamaica in their rebuilding efforts.

"I love being able to contribute, even in a small way, to help others, especially during the holiday season," he said. "It’s a time of giving and community, and I want to be part of that spirit."

The event will take place on Dec. 14th at Temple Beth El in Great Neck from 12 to 1:30 p.m. There will be music, pizza, and dancing.