ST CATHERINE, Jamaica – More than 100 days after Hurricane Beryl’s passage a sense of normality is returning to affected communities, but the most pressing need remains housing repairs, particularly roof restorations, according to Food For The Poor Jamaica (FFTP).

With a specific focus on Clarendon, Manchester and St Elizabeth, FFTP says over the past four months, approximately 24,000 lives have been positively impacted from various recovery activities. Additionally, up to 5,000 care packages which include food and toiletries have been distributed; and the charity says it directly improved the living conditions of over 700 individuals through roof repair activities.

FFTP Executive Director Kivette Silvera-Stephens said, “We understand the importance of not just immediate relief, but building resilience for the future. Our focus is on ensuring that families, farmers and fisherfolk can rebuild sustainably, and thanks to our many partners, we are seeing resuscitation in the communities and sectors that were impacted.”

The agricultural sector was heavily impacted by the hurricane and is a key focus of FFTP’s recovery initiative. Farmers and fisherfolk experienced severe losses, affecting scores of families and food production island-wide. Agricultural projects are currently being implemented to further the redevelopment of farms, directly benefiting close to 100 individuals and impacting over 300 more. Additionally, over 600 farmers and fisherfolk benefitted from tools, relief packages and training, FFTP said.

Agatha McDonald, a centenarian residing in Portland Cottage, Clarendon benefited from FFTP’s housing repairs. Her family evacuated the premises before the hurricane hit, only to return to a roofless house. Following the renovation, McDonald’s daughter and caregiver shared her thoughts about the experience: “The house top gone, everything gone…we were left empty after the hurricane but thanks to all the donors and Food For The Poor for coming to our rescue and helping to fix our roof.”

Michelle Parchment is a farmer from St Elizabeth. Like other residents in the community, her livelihood was placed on pause following Hurricane Beryl.

“I was doing pretty well…then Hurricane Beryl came along. I had eighty chickens, 4-weeks-old…the hurricane took off the entire roof of the coop and all the chickens drowned…I lost everything,” Parchment said.

As part of the recovery efforts in the parish, FFTP assisted Parchment with a new chicken coop and baby chicks…and today her business is thriving.

“It is a nice and needed gesture and to get the chickens is a great and a big start for all of us who benefited. Whatever I earn from this, I plan to put it back into my business, maybe even expand the business in the future. My family and I are in a better place,” Parchment said.

The organisation’s work has garnered support from both local and international partners, enabling additional projects in greenhouse repairs, back-to-school grants, training for fisherfolk, installation of community water points, mental health sessions, and the restoration of a health centre in Rocky Point, Clarendon.

“We remain committed to supporting families and communities, focusing on long-term resilience and sustainable recovery. With the humanitarian spirit that we have experienced from our many partners, we are confident that better days are ahead, and we are grateful that after four months, a sense of normality is returning to the affected communities,” Silvera-Stephens stated.