Wisconsin Musician Leads January Relief Trip to Storm-Hit Jamaica

You could say art is the center of Craig Baumann’s world. The Wisconsin musician creates award-winning songs with both the People Brothers Band and his own original project, The Story. He also runs a local store, Outpost Music, with his family in Waukesha. But what you may not know about Baumann – is his remarkable talent for giving to others. He’s currently preparing for what is an annual relief trip to Jamaica in January. But this one will be Baumann’s first visit since Hurricane Melissa slammed the island a little more than two months ago.   

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Listen to an interview with Baumann about his upcoming mission here:

The Mission of a Lifetime Begins

Baumann calls the beginning of his volunteer work more than two decades ago, somewhat accidental. He started helping residents in rural Jamaica by fixing their homes. And in some cases, before he arrived, “a home” was nothing more than a piece of plywood leaning against a tree. His efforts quickly grew into a larger mission and a nonprofit that has transformed the lives of both those living there and the many people who have traveled with him to make a difference.  

“We fell into something we love, something we learn from, and something that truly helps people,” Baumann says.

Jamaica Continues to Struggle after the Storm

The island is still struggling with what could be one of its toughest moments. And Baumann admits — seeing video from the area is heartbreaking. 

Catastrophic 200-mile-per-hour winds tore across the southern region in late October. But in central / western communities where housing and safety are already daily concerns, the damage is especially severe.

Many are only now starting to see their electricity and some basic communications restored following the storm.  

Another example may seem small, initially. But it shows how the food supply is also being impacted.

“The trees have no foliage,” Baumann explains. “The fruit is on the ground. This means the whole habitat providing just a small bit of food will have to regrow.” 

Some of the more intensive damage won’t be visible until Baumann can see it up close. He is prepared to deal with the foundations of larger buildings, including hospitals, that have cracked and shifted from the force of the storm.

Hands-on to Make a Difference

Hundreds of volunteers from Wisconsin and beyond have worked side-by-side with Baumann to repair or build more than 200 homes during the last 20 years. He’s been told a few of those structures are still standing.  

“I guess we’re doing something right,” he says. “And we’ll keep doing it.”

But when he’s there this time, he acknowledges, it will be different. He’s planning to start by checking on the condition of rural medical and school buildings where he’s already been told he is needed for ongoing cleanup efforts. Baumann also calls garbage and rubbish removal a major issue. It’s a problem he’s had to address in the past, but now he says, “everything is rubbish.”  

The urgency in Baumann’s voice is unmistakable. As he prepares to return and residents struggle to move forward, he hopes others will understand and offer some support. 

“We’re going no matter what,” he says. “We just want to be as efficient as possible when we get there.”

You can learn more about this effort, including how to support it — whether through supplies, financial help, or even volunteering — at the nonprofit mission’s website, Jam for Jamaica, here.