NEW YORK – Jamrock Jerk, a prominent mobile food service operator renowned for bringing authentic Jamaican jerk cuisine to New York City’s streets, has announced a targeted humanitarian hiring initiative. In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, the company will exclusively prioritize applicants from Jamaica’s most severely impacted parishes for its 2026 seasonal workforce through the U.S. H-2B Visa Program.
Led by founder Magnus McKellar, the organization operates over 20 street carts across the city and has a long-standing tradition of recruiting seasonal workers from Jamaica. The 2026 operational season, which runs from April through November, will see recruitment efforts specifically directed toward the parishes of St. Elizabeth, Trelawny, Manchester, St James, Westmoreland, and Hanover.
McKellar explained the decision emerged from December discussions on meaningful assistance strategies. ‘This initiative forms a crucial part of the broader recovery efforts,’ he stated. ‘By focusing our recruitment there, we aim to provide not just employment but direct economic support to communities rebuilding from the hurricane’s impact.’
The company seeks candidates who demonstrate exceptional customer service aptitude, proven food-service skills, and strong critical-thinking abilities. Additional preference will be given to applicants with practical technical skills—including commercial driving, kitchen equipment maintenance, and mechanical servicing—which are valuable for mobile food operations.
Approximately 60 successful applicants will be selected for the program, gaining access to significant earning potential that will directly support their families and contribute to local economic recovery in Jamaica. The initiative builds on the company’s substantial economic contribution; during the 2025 season alone, Jamrock Jerk distributed nearly $1 million in wages to its seasonal Jamaican workforce.
This targeted approach represents a private-sector model for post-disaster recovery, leveraging legal migration pathways to create immediate and tangible economic benefits for affected regions.