ADRA Jamaica, the humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica, has been actively providing aid to those in need before and during 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.

“Before the hurricane, 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 parish 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.”

An ADRA Jamaica representative conducts volunteer training.

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 the residents.

On Tuesday, November 4, a team of three ADRA International leaders, who had arrived on the Island on Friday, conducted a volunteer training in collaboration with the youth department of the Adventist Church, under the initiative “Yes with ADRA,” at Victor Dixon High School in Mandeville.

More than 100 volunteers were in the communities of Lacovia and St Elizabeth for data collection and a clean-up drive on Wednesday, November 5, and will distribute food and other necessary supplies based on the needs analysis conducted during the drive.

“The blend between internal and local experience really added value to the training,” said Anthia Adderley, one of the volunteers. “The organisation of the training and attention to detail were excellent. The training was very necessary, especially given the fact that not everyone has been in a disaster of this nature. The training was very interactive.”

“We are encouraging those who are affected by the hurricane that we will not leave you. We will be there to support you until your life is built back better than it was. Rest assured that ADRA Jamaica will be there to assist you in every way we can. Currently, our partners overseas are doing everything they can to gather resources, and the members of the Diaspora are reaching out to us, offering AID of various kinds. They are anxious to see you back on your feet, so rest assured and be hopeful. I know it’s not easy for you right now, but we’ll be there with you,” added Pastor Henry.

“We are happy for the initial response of ADRA Jamaica, as we join the Government NGO’s and other religious and faith-based organisations in Jamaica and overseas in relieving some of the hardships that many ordinary citizens in the areas severely impacted by the hurricane are experiencing at this time,” said Pastor Everett brown, president of the Seventh-day Adventist church in Jamaica.