Photo credit: Connek Ja
In the wake of Hurricane Melissa (2026), this community came together and did something extraordinary. In a matter of weeks, we raised and distributed nearly $9,000 in zero-barrier mutual aid to more than 60 trans and queer Jamaicans who had lost their homes, their income, and their safety. No gatekeeping or waiting for a bureaucracy to decide who deserved help. Just direct cash, put into the hands of the people who needed it most, organized by queer Jamaicans, for queer Jamaicans, in partnership with Ragga, Papi Juice, Black Trans Travel Fund, Out N Bad, Sapphic, and Thank God For Abortion. A year passed, and for many of the trans and queer Jamaicans, the work of rebuilding is not done.
Although several queer and trans Jamaicans accessed this fund, many more were not reached and are still displaced and without steady income. Some are still navigating a system that was hostile to them before the storm and has only gotten harder to move through since. The headlines moved on months ago. Our community did not have that option. That's why we launched this fund into our ongoing Connek Care programming where we raised funds, resources, and donations to bring to Kingston for the trans and queer community, yearly. Every dollar went directly to a trans or queer Jamaican rebuilding their life. No overhead. No middlemen. Just solidarity, in action.
In collaboration with Trans Wave JA we held our Care Package distribution at “Open Closet” October 24, 2026 in Kingston! We’ve sent two barrels down to Kingston and brought tons of luggage. Clothes, shoes, toiletries, and food all from NYC with love. At the event we also had t shirts donated form Gia Love and “Black Trans Love to hand out to attendees.
Donate to our 2027 trans & queer relief and Connek Care programming below:
Photos by Austin Sandhaus
2025 Connek Cares
2025 Connek Care Packages sent free gender affirming resources and more to queer/ trans people in Jamaica and throughout NYC: Our 1st official Connek Care package event was a huge success in Kingston, November 2025. We flew in with 12+ huge suitcases of free gender affirming care for queer & trans folk in partnership with our kin @blacktranstravelfund@morticiagodiva @devinmichaellowe // clothes, shoes, toiletries, hair, binders, food, electronics and food all with the help of all of you who donated towards this love package to our kin Jamaica. A special thanks to @nalasimonet @raulzepol@devonncharlesfrancis @reunitingofafricandescendants@aydiosneo @kimberelaynesprawl @deneebenton @olivedanni@blacktransmedia @allthatglittersisnotgold @missimanhill@keycedes for tapping into to make this happen.
If you’re interested in donating more we’d love to keep the care packages going. Email us at info@connekja.com to set up a barrel that goes directly to those in need.
