In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa’s devastation across Jamaica, local business leader Janelle Pantry-Coke transformed her company’s milestone celebration into a powerful humanitarian initiative. The Creative Director of Spaces Ltd, drawing upon her extensive background with the Rotary Club of Jamaica, reconceptualized what would have been a conventional 18th anniversary event into a ‘Rebuilding with Heart’ mission.
The November 23rd brunch and auction at Jamaica Food and Drink Kitchen became the launchpad for the Spaces Hurricane Relief Programme, strategically shifting from celebrating aesthetic design to addressing urgent community needs. Pantry-Coke emotionally addressed attendees, explaining how the hurricane had reshaped priorities: ‘Our theme captures the very essence of what we do – and who we are. We’ve witnessed heartbreak across Jamaica – homes lost, families displaced, livelihoods interrupted.’
The comprehensive relief program focuses on providing practical household support, with an explicit goal of supplying 100 complete mattress and bedding sets to help families reestablish fundamental comfort. The initiative expands to collecting linens, towels, and essential household supplies to restore normalcy for displaced residents.
The auction component, led by Fabian Brown, generated significant support through donated artworks from prominent Jamaican artists Kianne Patrice Hutchinson and Carla Newsam, alongside exclusive experiences from major sponsors including ATL, Sandals, Flow, and other corporate partners. Reverend Jim Parkes set the moral tone with a biblical reading emphasizing support for the vulnerable.
The event attracted cross-sector support from legal, banking, energy, and telecommunications professionals, demonstrating widespread community solidarity. Notable attendees included Scotiabank executives Marcette McLeggon and Rohan Hoilett, Flow executives Darron Turnquest and Nyree Coke, and Port Authority marketing executive Kim Stiff, among other prominent figures.
The celebration also marked the launch of Spaces Edit Magazine’s anniversary issue, though this achievement was repositioned within the context of post-disaster recovery, symbolizing how beauty and purpose can coexist during challenging times.