The cities of Miramar, Lauderhill and Homestead established drop-off locations to accept donations. Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), a Miami-based nonprofit, is also accepting donations and asking volunteers to pack boxes of supplies at its Doral location.

A Toronto organization is offering to send aid to Jamaica to help with relief efforts if Hurricane Melissa devastates the Caribbean island.

As Hurricane Melissa barrels toward Jamaica, a Delaware County, Pennsylvania, woman is holding onto hope and her heritage from her kitchen. Lileith Brown owns Taste Jamaica Now, a takeout business she runs from her apartment in Media. The smells of jerk chicken, curry goat and oxtail remind her of the country she still calls home.

Melissa is forecast to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane and bring life-threatening rainfall, landslides and storm surge to Jamaica, Haiti and elsewhere.