When Hurricane Melissa swept across Jamaica, damaging more than two dozen communities, it wasn’t just another headline for Simone Elliott; it was personal.
Born in Jamaica and now serving as District Pro and Services Support Manager for Lowe’s in South Florida, Elliott watched the storm’s path with growing anxiety. Her thoughts were with her grandmother, who had raised her, along with her uncles and cousins, who were still living on the island. “As I speak it, the emotion is coming back,” Elliott said. “I kept thinking, will she be safe? How will it affect her?”
While her family emerged with minimal impact, Elliott says the collective loss felt across the country, especially among the elderly and retired who lost everything, hit her hard. “We’re one. So that devastation is still close to heart and to home,” she said.
That deep connection is what made Elliott a driving force behind Lowe’s disaster response efforts. Lowe’s is delivering more than 300 relief buckets, totaling seven pallets, to the Food for the Poor Foundation as part of a $1 million commitment to support Hurricane Melissa recovery.
Each bucket is packed with essentials like bottled water, flashlights and cleaning supplies, offering families a small sense of normalcy during uncertain times.
For Elliott, this isn’t just about supplies; it’s about solidarity. “I want the message to be that we didn’t forget,” she said. “Even if it’s for five minutes, when they open that package, they’ll feel that hope, that they matter.”
Lowe’s decision to extend disaster relief beyond U.S. borders is a rare move, and for Elliott, it speaks volumes. “To know that I’m part of a company that stepped up when it mattered most, it warms my heart,” she said. “It tells me I’m at the right place.”
Elliott’s leadership is making a difference, and she wears her red vest with pride. “I’m showing up every day not just as a manager, but as someone who understands what it means to be seen and supported,” she said. “This effort is more than a donation, it’s a statement that Lowe’s stands with our people, wherever they are.”
