JN Foundation, Lutheran World Relief partner with Red Cross to aid Melissa recovery

KINGSTON, Jamaica —Vulnerable families and children in communities hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa are receiving assistance from the JN Foundation and Lutheran World Relief, which have donated supplies that are being distributed by the Jamaica Red Cross to aid their recovery. According to a release from JN Foundation, packages, which include education supplies, clothing, quilts and baby-care items, form part of a broader response to the needs emerging in communities as they transition from immediate hurricane relief to recovery mode. The formal handover of the care packages to the Jamaica Red Cross took place on Wednesday, October 7 at the Red Cross Headquarters in Central Village, St Catherine and underscored the continued partnership between the two organisations in reaching vulnerable communities affected by the disaster. Omar Wright, lead for environment and community development programmes at the foundation, said his organisation’s response evolved as the continued needs of communities became clear. “Many persons were thinking about how they were going to respond with food and water, but then we had another concern,” he said, noting the increased health risks and the loss of medication and other essential supplies following the hurricane. The foundation has maintained its mobile medical missions in some of the worst-affected western parishes, where healthcare needs were exacerbated by the destruction caused by the hurricane. Wright disclosed that Lutheran World Relief and its humanitarian arm, CORUS, has supported by providing additional funding for mobile medical missions and more than US$1 million in material resources. Three containers of relief supplies were received, including education kits, toiletries, clothing and baby-care items. He said the JN Foundation was particularly concerned about the impact of the hurricane on children, which prompted it to work with organisations with established systems for reaching the most vulnerable. “We decided that we were going to partner with institutions that serve the most vulnerable,” Wright pointed out, explaining that the Jamaica Red Cross was identified because of its established structure and governance mechanisms for ensuring that resources reach people who need them most. He added that the handover represents another step in its commitment to helping communities recover from Hurricane Melissa and ensuring that relief reaches those most in need. The Jamaica Red Cross has since incorporated the donated supplies into its wider relief operations. Horace Glaze, deputy operations manager, said the supplies strengthened the organisation’s back-to-school support for vulnerable families in affected parishes. He explained that approximately 4,000 packages were distributed across several parishes, including Westmoreland, Hanover, St Elizabeth and St James, with additional support provided in other areas. The distributions included supplies for children and families, while some remaining items are being targeted to schools and early-childhood institutions with specific needs. Glaze said the response was well received by families, with parents indicating that the packages were particularly useful at the start of the school year. “It really came in handy at the start of the school year,” he pointed out, noting that the foundation’s contribution helped to strengthen the Red Cross’ own resources and support from other partners. Yvonne Clarke, director general of the Jamaica Red Cross, expressed appreciation for the continued partnership with the JN Foundation, noting that the organisation has supported the Red Cross in various ways over the years. She said the Red Cross’s ability to respond to disasters depends heavily on support from corporate entities, individuals and international partners. The scale of the Red Cross response was highlighted by Jamie LeSueur, head of country delegation, who said the Jamaica Red Cross has reached more than 100,000 people through its Hurricane Melissa operation, with 205 distributions conducted. The response has also included mental health and psychosocial support and a cash programme to assist people. The Red Cross has transitioned into recovery, with support being directed towards restoring livelihoods among farmers, fisherfolk and small-business operators through cash assistance, training and collaboration with agencies such as the Rural Agricultural Development Authority.