Roger Mooking and Donovan Bailey Lead Jamaica Relief Drive With Local Drop-Off in Berkeley
Chef Roger Mooking and Olympian Donovan Bailey are leading a relief drive for communities in western Jamaica. Grey County residents can donate at Rocklands Market in Berkeley on November 16.
In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s destruction across western Jamaica, a wide-reaching relief campaign has begun mobilizing across Southern Ontario — and it’s coming to Grey County.
The Shirt Off My Back Campaign, co-led by Roger Mooking, internationally recognized chef and Grey County’s first Culinary Ambassador, and Olympic gold medallist Donovan Bailey, is gathering essential supplies to support recovery efforts in communities hit hardest by the storm, including Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, and Black River.
The campaign was sparked by a conversation between Mooking and Simone Jennifer Smith of the community organization Brothers Who Care, after Smith learned that her family in Westmoreland had lost everything.
“I put out a call to my neighbours and everyone showed up to my house with donated items within 24 hours. It filled the back of a pickup truck,” Mooking told The Owen Sound Current. He said that the quick mobilization made him think about how much they could do with partners.
“Simone did the same, and within 10 minutes, we had a donated warehouse and a handful of committed community and media partners,” Mooking said. “I called Donovan, with whom I was chatting about Hurricane Melissa, and he was in. And here we are…”
The campaign quickly expanded with support from a growing list of partners, including Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, Pearson International Airport, HMS Host, Steer2Home, Hear 2 Help, Rocklands Market, and Mooking’s own restaurant, Twist by Roger Mooking.
Locally, a donation drop-off event will be held on Saturday, November 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Rocklands Market, located at 580364 Sideroad 60 in Berkeley. The market is coordinating collection efforts across Grey County and nearby areas.
For residents in the Greater Toronto Area, donations are also being accepted at 1860 Jane Street on November 9, 16, and 30, between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Pearson International Airport staff also have drop-off options at Twist by Roger Mooking, HMS Host Production Kitchen, and multiple HMS Host locations throughout YYZ on November 7 and 14.
The campaign’s first phase is focused on collecting specific essentials: non-perishable foods, bottled water, feminine hygiene products, general hygiene items (such as bar soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and toilet paper), along with weather-appropriate clothing, shoes, linens, and towels. All items must be new or near-new, sealed, and untampered.
“On-site, we will be quickly assessing donations and only accepting what meets the above,” Mooking said via email, emphasizing that quality control is key to ensuring items are useful once they arrive on the ground.
The campaign’s name — Shirt Off My Back — reflects its roots in urgency and community. What began as an individual act of generosity quickly transformed into a coordinated effort involving media, businesses, and grassroots organizers. Mooking says this kind of response is deeply connected to the resourcefulness and spirit of the Caribbean.
“Jamaica is a place that took oil drums and created a Jerk Pit BBQ for making chicken and pork. In Trinidad, where I am born, those steel drums became steel pans and Carnival that has been duplicated globally. The culture and creativity borne of necessity and the need for joy are intrinsic to the Caribbean spirit,” Mooking explained. “We are alchemists of reinvention, transforming horror into joy. We are built for this.”
The emotional and philosophical underpinning of the campaign is summed up by a phrase Mooking has adopted both personally and professionally: Love Only Beyond This Point. The slogan appears prominently at Rocklands Market and on campaign materials, and for Mooking, it is more than just a message.
“This is not only Rocklands Market branded slogan, it is my personal mission. It is my reminder to myself and others that all of our actions have influence,” he said. “We are living in a very interesting and volatile moment in human history, and this idea is more necessary than perhaps ever... I believe in this slogan deeply and I’m probably the most stubborn person you will ever meet, especially around Love Only Beyond This Point. I say this to myself probably 1,000 times every day and ‘I wear it to share it.’”
Mooking, whose work spans music, television, food, and public service, has long explored the connection between artistic expression and community care. He sees food and art not simply as tools for survival or celebration, but as intimately connected to healing.
“I used to say that one feeds the body and the other feeds the soul. I’ve since evolved this thought to being inextricably linked... A single molecule of water can live in a droplet, a river, as Walters Falls or as steam. It is singular but also a part of a greater whole, just like people. So we are all connected, and what connects it all is love. I believe this to my core.”
Olympic champion Donovan Bailey, a longtime supporter of community initiatives in Canada and Jamaica, is also playing a central role in the campaign. He described his participation as a natural extension of his ongoing commitment to give back.
“The island of Jamaica has always been at the forefront of my efforts, whether boots on the ground or giving back from afar,” Bailey said.
He noted that teaming up with Mooking made sense immediately. “Roger has always been genuine in his effort or in giving back, so [it was] an absolute no-brainer to collaborate.”
With the first shipment of donated goods scheduled to depart in early December, Bailey said he is hopeful the effort will lead to more than short-term relief.
“In six months, my desire is that Jamaica returns to its lush paradise and all people affected by Melissa have all their needs met,” Bailey added.
Bailey and Mooking have both committed to using their platforms to continue highlighting the effort, even after the first wave of donations has been sent. The campaign’s roadmap stretches at least six months, with the goal of supporting recovery and rebuilding well into 2026.
For now, the call to action is clear: donate, if you can, and donate well.
Items most urgently needed include:
Non-perishable food items
Bottled water
Feminine hygiene products
General hygiene items (soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper)
Weather-appropriate, near-new clothing and footwear
Towels and linens
All donations must be sealed, clean, and in good condition.
More information about the campaign and its partner organizations — including Brothers Who Care, Hear 2 Help, and Rocklands Market — is available through their official websites and social media platforms.
For Grey County residents looking to contribute, the November 16 drop-off in Berkeley offers a tangible way to support those facing crisis, and a poignant reminder that love, when acted upon, moves faster and is more impactful than any storm.
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