Jamaica Report Sept 2026
On Oct 28th, 2025, Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica as a powerful Category 5 storm, bringing catastrophic winds. Over 100,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, families lost not only their homes but their livelihoods as well. When our team arrived four months later, it looked like it had been days, not months since the hurricane hit. The damage and destruction were still very evident in the hardest hit areas.
In the first few months of the disaster, emergency food packages were provided for 5,360 families. These packages contained staple food items like rice, beans, soup mix, canned protein and cooking oil.
Dorothy Wray was one of the elderly ladies interviewed by Cheryl Weber, and we are pleased to report that her house was one of the first ones to get repaired! Funds for rebuilding homes were sent to the hardware stores so that participants could pick up their materials. Construction workers were paid for their work, which helped provide more families in the area with an income while supporting those who lost everything. The materials and building methods used, for example, strong rebar foundations and slab roofing where possible, will make the homes stronger when facing future storms.
The hurricane damaged fishing boats, fishing equipment and destroyed crops. People not only had their homes damaged or destroyed but their ways of earning income was also affected. Through our partners you helped to restore people’s livelihoods by providing fishing equipment, seeds and farming supplies to replant damaged crops.
The financial support you provided helped Dorothy and many others with garden seeds, fishing mesh, rebar, windows, and other construction materials to help rebuild livelihoods and homes. Thank you, for letting them know Canadian brothers and sisters in Christ care.
In His Service,
Cheryl Weber, Director, Crossroads Cares
