DJ Paul Davis makes miracles with music

Who needs a fat wallet to make a difference? DJ Paul Davis' incredible journey screams, "Not me!"

The Manchester native Davis isn't your average DJ spinning tracks. He's the hero next door, rallying his beats to transform lives. He is dishing out meals at the local mental health clinic and building homes for those in need. How? By jamming online and turning musical passion into a powerhouse for fundraising.

"I started cooking food and bringing it to the mental health clinic every Wednesday, because I thought to myself that many people would be there for hours and would not have anything to eat," he said.

"One day, one of the nurses at the mental health clinic reached out to me and asked me to visit two young men. When I visited them, I brought some clothes and food, and I saw that they lived in a chicken coop. I could not sleep when I got home that day, because I did not know people lived like this. I knew I had to do something for them, so I decided to play music online to raise the funds to build a two-bedroom house for them."

His story took off like wildfire, with folks across the island knocking on his virtual door for help.

"After people saw the work that I did, a young lady in my community reached out to me for help, and, at first, I was not sure I could help her. But after visiting her, I knew I had to, especially since she was blind and crippled. I went online to play music again and raise funds. I thought it was over after that; but then I visited another man in my community who was also crippled and lived in a shed. He did not seem to have a bed; it was as if he was sleeping on a piece of zinc. I did the same thing once more, and refurbished a few after that. After those efforts, I decided to focus all my energy on the feeding programme and those with mental health issues who need anything, whether it be groceries or a home-cooked meal," the extraordinary philanthropist expressed.

Davis, who was raised in Porus, was recently honoured with the Red Stripe 'Suh Wi Dweet-Everyday Hero Award'. He also received a $100,000 cash prize.

"This acknowledgement propels me to go harder and create a bigger impact," he said.

The community hero was inspired by his father to dedicate his time to serving others.

"Before my father passed from a stroke, he was always doing his best to help others. There was nothing too big or too small for him. Once he was able to do it, he did it. I have always wanted to help others. It was when I was at my home during the pandemic, I recognised that many of the people on the street got their food from the garbage or leftovers from what other people did not eat. I decided that I was going to buy 50 boxes of food, go into the streets, and start giving them away. It was meant to be a one-time thing, but I found that people gravitated towards it; and after seeing their gratitude, once I started, I could not stop," Davis shared with a smile.

He describes the feeding programme as his biggest community service project to date. However, despite the challenges faced, Davis remains motivated, knowing that he is helping to improve a person's quality of life.

"I want to leave a legacy of being a loving soul who aims to make people happy. I have not done any of these things for recognition. I just want to put my best foot forward and spread positivity. I may not have the most money, but I do the best that I can, and I have family members who also help to bring my dreams to reality. Everything has just been a blessing. All I want to do is make a difference at the end of the day," he said.