American entrepreneur gathers aid for children in eastern Cuba following Hurricane Melissa

From Carrollton, in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, American entrepreneur Cheryl Ketcham has organized a campaign to collect clothing, shoes, food, and school supplies for the communities most affected by the hurricane in eastern Cuba, as reported by the television station WAVY, affiliated with NBC.

Ketcham is the owner of Finley’s General Store, a small neighborhood shop that sells household items and local products, which in recent days has become a collection center for those looking to send aid to Cuba. From there, the businesswoman coordinates the collection of donations and prepares for a new trip to the Caribbean country.

She traveled to Cuba for the first time two years ago, where she met a woman who taught private lessons to children from her church. Since then, she has kept in touch with the community and has dedicated herself to sending educational materials that are scarce on the island, a situation that worsened after Hurricane Melissa passed on October 29.

 “There is still a shortage of food and water in these areas, and many people from eastern Cuba lost their homes, lost their roofs,” said the businesswoman to WAVY.

In recent days, Ketcham has intensified efforts to gather supplies before departing for the island again. In her shop, she has placed a donation box aimed at raising funds that will be used to purchase food once she arrives in Cuba.

"The people there have nothing compared to what we have, but their joy is so immense and they are so grateful for everything one does for them. They truly inspire me to be a better person," he expressed.

Hurricane Melissa, which struck the Caribbean at the end of October, resulted in severe flooding, destroyed homes, and extensive damage to infrastructure in eastern provinces of Cuba such as Granma, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo, where thousands of families continue to lack basic resources and depend on state and international aid.

Ketcham hopes to receive donations until this Tuesday, November 11, when he plans to travel with about 23 kilograms of humanitarian aid. If the community response continues, he envisions making another trip in December or January to continue supporting the Cuban children affected by the disaster.