ADRA Jamaica, the humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica, has been actively providing aid to those in need before and in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, which swept through the western parishes of Jamaica, causing fatalities and destruction.
Prior to the landfall of the hurricane, ADRA Jamaica volunteers prepared 800 units of food supply, which were distributed in St Elizabeth and Westmoreland.
“We had our National Emergency Management Plan approved before the hurricane came close to Jamaica because, when we heard of the predicted path, we chose the parishes of Westmoreland and St Elizabeth as our initial response,” said Pastor Wenford Henry, director of ADRA Jamaica.
“We were able to order and prepare approximately 800 food packages, which were delivered in these packages, because we were cognizant of the fact that people would have immediate needs during and right after the hurricane.”
After the hurricane, the ADRA team and its volunteers were mobilised and made almost daily visits to the parishes, especially in the areas of Black River, Middle Quarters, and Lacovia, where they delivered soup and hot meals to residents.