AFJ Hurricane Melissa Impact Dashboard
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*As of January 14th, 2026
- American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)
- Bluefields Environmental Protection Association
- Breds Foundation - Treasure Beach
- Food For The Poor Jamaica
- Global Empowerment Mission
- Hanover Charities USA Inc.
- Kingston Creative Ltd.
- Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth & Information, Jamaica
- Montego Bay Clean Up
- One Love Consortium
- Project STAR Jamaica
- Swallowfield Chapel
- Teach Caribbean
- UNICEF - WASH
- Hanover
- Manchester
- St. Ann
- St. Elizabeth
- St. James
- Trelawny
- Westmoreland
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 further supported GEM’s emergency operations by funding labor for tarp installations, securing damaged roofs on homes and medical clinics across St. James, Westmoreland, and St. Elizabeth, providing critical protection 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 emergency funding supported a collaborative relief effort with GEM and FFTP, strengthened by a Sands Family donation, enabling expanded reach across Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, St. James, Hanover, and Trelawny.
To ensure access to clean water and prevent disease outbreaks, 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 649 families, while delivering emergency shelter solutions for more than 2,000 families during the ongoing rainy season in southwestern parishes devastated by Hurricane Melissa.
Recognizing the importance of coordination and last-mile delivery, AFJ provided funding to the One Love Consortium, supporting aviation coordination with the Jamaica Defence Force, strengthening emergency telecommunications, and enabling the 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 funding the operation of a centralized Hurricane Relief Hub managed by Swallowfield Chapel, which coordinated and distributed relief supplies to more than 20 church communities across western Jamaica.
Additional relief initiatives included funding for community debris removal through the Montego Bay Clean Up initiative in St. James, restoring access and improving safety, as well as targeted support to education and community centers serving as relief hubs. In Treasure Beach, AFJ supported Breds for Sandy Bank Elementary to address urgent storm damage at Sandy Bay Primary School and funded Breds The Treasure Beach Foundation to meet emergency education and literacy needs for affected students and families.
AFJ also provided funding to Hanover Charities USA INC, supporting grindstone Ministries with roof repair supplies, and Hopewell Sports and Community Centre, which delivered hot meals, medical clinics, and psychosocial support for hurricane-affected families.
Together, these efforts ensured immediate, coordinated, and wide-reaching relief- meeting urgent needs while stabilizing communities during the most critical phase of the disaster.
AFJ transitioned its focus toward recovery, restoration, and resilience-building, ensuring that communities could rebuild stronger and more sustainably following Hurricane Melissa.
In partnership with the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth & Information, AFJ is funding the delivery of solar panels to schools across the island, restoring reliable and sustainable power for students and teachers and enabling education to resume safely and consistently after storm-related disruptions.
AFJ is also supporting local partner organizations across multiple parishes to restore essential infrastructure and improve living conditions. This includes funding to the Bluefields Foundation for the purchase of construction materials to support rebuilding efforts in Westmoreland, as well as targeted recovery assistance in Rat Trap, Bethel Town, where hurricane-damaged homes and community structures are being restored.
Through these recovery investments, AFJ is ensuring that every dollar raised not only addresses immediate humanitarian needs but also contributes to long-term stability, resilience, and sustainable development for communities across Jamaica.
Relief and Recovery Efforts
PREVIOUS RELIEF INITIATIVES
PREPARATION: SUPPLYING COMMUNITIES WITH TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO STOCK SUPPLIES AND CREATE SAFE SPACES.
IMMEDIATE RESPONSE: PROVIDING SHELTER, WATER, FOOD, EMERGENCY SUPPLIES, AND MEDICAL CARE.
RECOVERY: OFFERING COUNSELING SERVICES, CLEANUP SUPPORT, AND HELPING FAMILIES DEVELOP RECOVERY PLANS.
Hurricane Beryl struck Jamaica with devastating force. Towns were torn apart, families were displaced, and entire communities were left in crisis. For many, hope felt out of reach. But still in the face of this disaster, we began to rebuild together.
The American Friends of Jamaica was there because of you. To increase the level of impact, the AFJ partnered with the NCB Foundation through the Building a Better Jamaica Fund. NCB Bank pledged to match donations up to $150 million Jamaican dollars, doubling the donations. As a result, AFJ presented a check for just under $121 million Jamaican dollars to support relief efforts.
Together, through this collective effort, we raised a total of J$459 million for Hurricane Beryl relief. With these funds, our partnership was able to: support over 540 farmers; repair 795 roofs; distribute 800 water filters; reconnect 3,000 homes to water with generators; impact more than 13,000 lives.
Hurricane Beryl Recap Reel
In response to the devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, the AFJ launched a hurricane relief campaign to support the affected areas and partnered with the Caribbean Diaspora Disaster Relief Coalition to amplify the campaign’s impact.
Thanks to the generous contributions of our supporters, we raised US$30,000, with special recognition to Caribbean Food Delights for their substantial donation. The AFJ selected the Sandals Foundation and Food for the Poor to execute specific projects in Turks & Caicos and Dominica.
Funds given to the Sandals Foundation are being used to repair the Enid Capron Primary School in Providenciales, which suffered major water damage and required extensive structural repairs. Funds provided to Food for the Poor were used to purchase 33 generators for Dominica, where Hurricane Maria caused severe damage.
Devastation from Hurricane Irma in Barbuda in 2017.
The American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) launched the COVID-19 Vaccine Fund with an initial contribution of $200,000 to support vaccine distribution in underserved communities across Jamaica. This fund, bolstered by major donors and AFJ discretionary funds, aimed to ensure equitable access to vaccines for all Jamaicans.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) and the National Vaccine Commission, the fund was strategically allocated to enhance ongoing vaccination efforts. The primary focus was on vaccinating healthcare workers, the elderly, and other frontline workers, recognizing their essential roles and increased vulnerability.
The AFJ remained committed to supporting Jamaica through this unprecedented health crisis and invited supporters to join in safeguarding the health and well-being of all Jamaicans.
COVID-19 Vaccine Fund – Day two of a three-day vaccination blitz at Caymanas Park in Portmore.
Following the devastation of Hurricane Dean in 2007, the American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) launched the “A Thousand Roofs of Love” initiative to aid Jamaican citizens in rebuilding and repairing 1,000 homes. This Category 4 hurricane caused extensive flooding and storm surges, leaving many children and families homeless and without personal belongings.
In response, the AFJ provided essential roofing materials to those affected, helping them restore their damaged homes.
Generators at Food for the Poor’s warehouse in Florida were packed and crated for shipment in 2017, demonstrating the power of collaboration and preparedness. These efforts reflect AFJ’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Jamaica’s disaster response capacity and helping communities rebuild stronger than before. Together with our partners and supporters, we continue to build resilience and ensure that Jamaica is ready to face future challenges.
Generators at Food for the Poor’s warehouse in Florida, packed and crated for shipment in 2017.