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Houston nonprofit with ties to Jamaica seeks donations for Hurricane Melissa recovery | Houston Public Media

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Thursday, October 30th 2025 at 7:38 GMT by Houston Public Media
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Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica late in October 2025, left a trail of devastation across the island’s eastern and central regions. The 105‑mph storm surge battered coastal communities, uprooted trees, and flooded low‑lying neighborhoods, while the heavy rainfall caused widespread landslides and infrastructure damage. According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm produced more than 15 inches of rain in some areas and left roughly 30 % of Jamaica’s electricity grid down for several days. The Jamaican government estimates that the total damage exceeds $1 billion, affecting more than 200 000 residents.

The initial response on the ground was coordinated by the Jamaican Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Tourism, with international partners such as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) providing technical support. Shelters were set up in school gymnasiums and community centers, while the Red Cross distributed emergency kits that included water, canned food, and hygiene products. Local NGOs, including the Jamaican Food Bank and the Community Care Foundation, mobilized volunteers to deliver food and medical supplies to the hardest-hit districts.

In the United States, Houston‑based nonprofit organizations stepped up to support relief efforts in the Caribbean. The Houston Food Bank’s Disaster Response Team partnered with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to ship over 5 k tons of non‑perishable food to the island. The organization’s “Meals for Melissa” campaign raised more than $750 000 in donations, with the majority of funds earmarked for the distribution of high‑energy biscuits, canned soups, and bottled water. Houston Food Bank’s executive director, Maria Gonzales, stated that the partnership with local Jamaican agencies allowed for efficient distribution, reducing delivery time from Houston to Port Moresby by 48 hours.

Another key player was the St. Luke’s Hospital Foundation, which coordinated a medical relief convoy from Houston to Jamaica. The convoy included 12 ambulances, a surgical team, and a mobile field hospital equipped with ventilators and dialysis machines. Dr. Kevin Patel, the foundation’s chief medical officer, highlighted the importance of rapid deployment, noting that “early medical intervention can prevent long‑term complications for patients suffering from burn injuries and trauma.” The medical team worked closely with Jamaica’s Ministry of Health to set up temporary clinics in the capital’s northern neighborhoods.

The Houston Humanitarian Alliance (HHA) launched a volunteer mobilization program that attracted over 3 000 volunteers from across the city. These volunteers participated in debris removal, temporary shelter construction, and community outreach programs that promoted water‑borne disease prevention. The HHA also organized a fundraising drive that secured more than $200 000 in cash donations and in‑kind contributions such as construction materials, which were shipped to Jamaica under the oversight of the United States Department of State’s Global Humanitarian Assistance (GHA) program.

In addition to direct aid, Houston nonprofits collaborated with academic institutions to provide post‑disaster assessment and long‑term recovery planning. The University of Houston’s School of Public Health conducted a rapid health needs assessment in partnership with the Jamaican Health Ministry, identifying priority areas such as clean water access, mental health support, and vaccination outreach. Findings from the assessment were shared in a joint report with CDEMA, emphasizing the necessity of a comprehensive recovery strategy that includes community resilience training.

The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also played a role by allocating supplemental disaster relief funds to the Jamaican government. These funds were earmarked for rebuilding damaged infrastructure, including roads, schools, and hospitals. FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Program coordinator, Linda Ramirez, confirmed that the partnership with Houston nonprofits facilitated efficient utilization of funds, ensuring that aid reached the most vulnerable populations.

As recovery efforts continue, the focus is shifting toward rebuilding and resilience. Local Jamaican communities, supported by Houston nonprofits, are working on sustainable agriculture projects to replace lost crops and on renewable energy initiatives to reduce dependence on diesel generators. The “Green Recovery” project, funded by a joint grant from the Houston Chamber of Commerce and the Jamaican Ministry of Energy, aims to install solar panels in 50 community schools across the affected region.

The story of Hurricane Melissa’s aftermath underscores the power of transnational solidarity. Houston’s response, built on a foundation of local expertise and global partnerships, demonstrates how coordinated humanitarian action can accelerate recovery, preserve livelihoods, and strengthen community resilience in the face of increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters. The collaboration between Houston nonprofits, U.S. federal agencies, and Jamaican government bodies has laid a robust groundwork for Jamaica’s path to recovery, offering a model that can be replicated for future disaster responses across the Caribbean and beyond.