Hurricane Melissa struck Westmoreland with sustained winds of 185 mph as a Category 5 storm, leveling homes, inundating farms, and cutting off entire communities. Debbie-Anne Gordon, a board member of Food For The Poor Jamaica, traveled to the parish without waiting for official instructions after losing contact with her family, including her mother.
Upon arrival, she encountered widespread distress among residents lacking food, water, and shelter. She returned to Kingston to alert the organization’s leadership, who immediately mobilized a relief response. Gordon described the devastation as traumatic and nearly unimaginable, with many still stranded in schools and walking long distances for necessities.
Despite the scale of destruction, she emphasized the urgency of local and diaspora-led aid. Food For The Poor Jamaica, known for its efficient, donor-supported housing model, is now focused on delivering essential support—food, clothing, and shelter—to those who have lost everything.
Upon arrival, she encountered widespread distress among residents lacking food, water, and shelter. She returned to Kingston to alert the organization’s leadership, who immediately mobilized a relief response. Gordon described the devastation as traumatic and nearly unimaginable, with many still stranded in schools and walking long distances for necessities.
Despite the scale of destruction, she emphasized the urgency of local and diaspora-led aid. Food For The Poor Jamaica, known for its efficient, donor-supported housing model, is now focused on delivering essential support—food, clothing, and shelter—to those who have lost everything.
