In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, AFJ mobilized rapidly to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance across western Jamaica, prioritizing food security, clean water, shelter, health, and coordination.

Partnering with Global Empowerment Mission, AFJ sponsored the first two emergency airlifts from Miami, transporting essential family care packages that arrived on October 30, 2025, and were distributed that weekend to families in Black River. AFJ also strengthened GEM’s emergency operations by supporting tarp installations and urgent roof protection for homes and medical clinics across St. James, Westmoreland, and St. Elizabeth during continued rainfall.

Building on this rapid response, AFJ collaborated with Dennis Shipping, ARC Manufacturing LTD., and Colgate-Palmolive Company to coordinate sea freight deliveries of food, shelter materials, and clean drinking water to Westmoreland and surrounding parishes. Additional support expanded delivery capacity across Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, St. James, Hanover, and Trelawny.

To help prevent disease outbreaks and restore safe access to water, AFJ supported UNICEF in delivering Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programming for children and families across Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, St. James, Hanover, Trelawny, St. Ann, and Manchester.

AFJ also funded JDC to provide food assistance and WASH support for hundreds of families, while helping deliver emergency shelter solutions for thousands of households during the ongoing rainy season in hard-hit southwestern parishes.

Recognizing the importance of coordination and last-mile delivery, AFJ supported the One Love Consortium to strengthen aviation coordination with the Jamaica Defence Force, reinforce emergency telecommunications, and enable delivery of food and essential supplies to remote rural communities through airdrops and trucking operations across western Jamaica.

AFJ further strengthened community-based response efforts by supporting a centralized Hurricane Relief Hub managed by Swallowfield Chapel, coordinating and distributing relief supplies to more than 20 church communities across western Jamaica.

Additional relief initiatives included community debris removal through the Montego Bay Clean Up initiative in St. James to restore access and improve safety, along with targeted support to education and community centers serving as relief hubs. In Treasure Beach, AFJ supported urgent storm repairs at Sandy Bay Primary School and helped meet emergency education and literacy needs for affected students and families.

AFJ also provided support in Hanover, helping local partners deliver roof repair supplies and community-based relief services such as hot meals, medical clinics, and psychosocial support for hurricane-affected families.

AFJ also worked with the United Church of Jamaica & Cayman Islands to assist Hampden Estate staff impacted by Hurricane Melissa, alongside support for the Hampden United Church and Dumphries Basic School in Trelawny.

Together, these efforts ensured immediate, coordinated, and wide-reaching relief - meeting urgent needs while helping communities stabilize during the most critical phase of the disaster.

As emergency conditions stabilized, AFJ transitioned its focus toward recovery, restoration, and resilience-building - helping communities rebuild stronger and more sustainably following Hurricane Melissa.

Housing recovery has remained a critical priority. Through AFJ-supported recovery initiatives, 721 houses have been assisted, helping families restore safe and secure housing following the hurricane.

To accelerate livelihood recovery, AFJ supported the distribution of 1,519 gift cards to small farmers, helping farmers replace critical supplies, restart agricultural activity, and rebuild their livelihoods.

AFJ also supported the recovery of seven schools across five parishes, helping restore learning environments and get students back to school. These include Cousins Cove in Hanover; St. John's Infant School and Darliston Primary School in Westmoreland; Wakefield Primary School in Trelawny; Glen Stuart Primary and Elderslie Primary and Infant School in St. Elizabeth; and Cambridge Primary School in St. James.

Recognizing that many schools required immediate solutions while permanent repairs continued, AFJ also supported the provision of temporary classrooms at 31 schools across the island, helping students and teachers return to safe and functional learning spaces.

In partnership with the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth & Information, AFJ is also funding the delivery of solar panels to schools across the island, restoring reliable and sustainable power for students and teachers and strengthening the resilience of Jamaica's education infrastructure.

Through these recovery investments, AFJ is helping families return home, farmers restore their livelihoods, and students return to the classroom - while strengthening the long-term resilience of communities across Jamaica.

AFJ’s in-kind partnerships have played an important role in expanding the reach of Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts, connecting urgently needed goods and resources with communities and institutions across Jamaica.

As part of this effort, AFJ facilitated the donation of 247,517 packets of organic seeds, valued at approximately US$750,000, to support farmers, schools, and communities rebuilding after the hurricane. The donation is helping strengthen agricultural recovery, restore livelihoods, and provide communities with resources to grow food and rebuild with greater resilience.

AFJ also coordinated the donation of essential medical supplies to the University Hospital of the West Indies, helping strengthen access to critical healthcare resources.

Additional in-kind support included AG1 energy drinks and cornmeal donated to Food For The Poor for distribution to communities in need, as well as Christmas toys for children in Maggotty, St. Elizabeth, bringing additional support and encouragement to families recovering from the storm.

Together, these contributions demonstrate the power of partnership and generosity in Jamaica’s recovery - mobilizing valuable goods and resources that complement AFJ’s financial investments and help communities rebuild, recover, and move forward.