The Ground Report

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When our team arrived in Jamaica after the hurricane, we expected destruction
but nothing could prepare us for the depth of loss we witnessed firsthand.

We walked through communities where entire families stood beside the remains of their homes, unsure of what tomorrow would bring. We spoke with mothers, elders, young people, each story echoing the same truth.

People have lost everything. Even when they find a temporary place to stay, there are no beds, no clothing, and no essentials waiting for them. For many, what they wore on the day of the storm is all they have left. Food is slowly arriving, but the urgent needs go far beyond that. There are no homes to return to, no safe places to cook, and in many areas no running water to shower or clean. With spotty connectivity, families feel cut off and overwhelmed, trying to navigate confusion, exhaustion, and heartbreak all at once.

Jamaicans live by a powerful saying:

“If you dont have anything to eat and I have one banana, I will split it in half so we can both eat.”

It means that if you are hungry and I have food, I will share, even if that is all I’ve got.

It means that if I have shelter and you don't, my home is your home.

But today, after the hurricane, neither neighbor has a home left to share.
The very culture of giving, of community, of taking care of one another, has been shaken because people simply do not have the basics to survive, let alone support others.

This is the reality the local people expressed to us.
This is the need we have witnessed with our own eyes.

Our first relief effort to Montego Bay area was made possible through the support of many generous partners and volunteers. We extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who assisted, with special gratitude to the Giving 4 Hope Foundation and its representatives Egda Avila and Gisela Alvarez. We also thank the Ray Peeples Ministries, Mr Newton Wholas at Jamaica Tours, Mr Andrew Grizzle who served as our driver on the ground, the local Southwest Airlines MCO team, and the many volunteers who stepped forward to help.

During this first mission, our team delivered food, clothing, shoes, hygiene products, diapers, formula, medical supplies, and water purification devices. These supplies brought immediate comfort, but we quickly realized that the scale of destruction far exceeds what one trip can mend. The need is far greater and the recovery journey for these communities has only just begun.

Both The Ann Hewan Foundation and The Giving 4 Hope Foundation have committed to restoring hope in some of the hardest hit areas, including the communities of Goodwill, Davis Pen, Chatham, Blyston, Edenvale, Johnson Hill, and others as needed. Our work is guided by the needs we witness on the ground, ensuring support reaches every family and community that calls for help.

We also reached out to the Falmouth Fire Brigade to express our gratitude for their service and their strength during this crisis, and made a donation of medical supplies.

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This is not a one time effort. This is a continued mission to support the people of these communities and beyond. Each time we bring down supplies and distribute them, we will document the process and share updates through the Hurricane Melissa page, including the evolving list of needs.

Tarps provide only temporary protection. The real necessity now is the replacement of the zinc roofs that were torn away by the hurricane. Our goal is to raise enough funding to purchase approximately one thousand sheets of zinc. 

Each sheet costs an average of $18 USD.