KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a powerful display of community solidarity, residents of hurricane-ravaged Trelawny parish gathered Sunday for a comprehensive relief initiative that blended essential aid with seasonal cheer. The collaborative event, orchestrated by FYI Consultancy Group and the JN Foundation, transformed the William Knibb Memorial High School football field into a hub of hope and practical assistance for families still grappling with Hurricane Melissa’s catastrophic aftermath.
The initiative provided a dual approach to recovery, addressing both immediate physical needs and psychological wellbeing. Attendees received vouchers redeemable for brand-new clothing, toys, toiletries, and household essentials, while children enjoyed games, sports activities, and visits with Santa Claus—creating moments of normalcy amid ongoing reconstruction efforts.
Personal accounts highlighted the profound impact of both the hurricane and the relief efforts. Angella Greenlurch of Falmouth, who brought three of her five children, expressed gratitude for the assistance after losing her roof, bed, and personal belongings to the Category 5 storm. “Whatever we get, we appreciate it,” she stated, embodying the resilience of affected communities.
The human dimension of recovery was further illustrated through individual stories: 14-year-old Kemar Brown, uncertain about his educational future due to school damage; 19-year-old twins Javari and Javani King seeking hygiene products after their home was flattened; and Rohan Gilzene, determined to provide his five-year-old son with a meaningful Christmas experience despite extensive property damage.
Seventy-seven-year-old farmer Eglon Mills represented the older generation’s perseverance, having lost his roof, furniture, and clothing yet maintaining optimism about rebuilding his agricultural livelihood with support from development agencies.
Paula Pinnock, Managing Director of FYI Consultancy Group, emphasized the psychological importance of the event: “A meaningful aspect of the recovery process is the opportunity we can provide to lift spirits—and Christmas is a time when spirits should be high and pregnant with hope.”
The scaled-up initiative featured multiple partnerships, including a thrift shop established with the Bahamas-based Fox Foundation, Breezes Foundation, and the Government of The Bahamas. Additional services included phone charging stations from Jamaica Public Service for residents still without electricity, medical support from St John Ambulance, and internet access provided via Starlink technology by the Jamaica Automobile Association.
Omar Wright, community projects lead at the JN Foundation, noted the intentional focus on dignity in relief distribution: “The intention was to bring Christmas cheer and relief in a manner that left residents feeling dignified.” This marked the third collaboration between the organizations in supporting Trelawny residents through crisis response initiatives.