World Central Kitchen On The Rock
When Hurricane Melissa rampaged across Jamaica on October 28, it did more than damage homes and roads. In its aftermath, it left thousands of families uncertain of where their next meal would come from. As the country began assessing the scale of destruction, a team from World Central Kitchen, who had been providing meals on the island days before the storm, accelerated their efforts to meet the needs of Jamaicans hardest-hit by Melissa.
Founded by Spanish-American chef José Andrés, World Central Kitchen is an international non-profit that responds to crises with immediate food relief, often prepared by the world’s leading chefs. The organisation has provided hot meals in the wake of earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires, and conflicts around the world, always working alongside communities, with local chefs and farmers, to bring comfort through familiar flavours.
In Jamaica, World Central Kitchen’s Emergency Response Director, Chef Oli, arrived with experience from disaster zones as far apart as Madrid and Myanmar. “We started preparing before the hurricane hit,” he explained. “We reached out to the restaurant partners we worked with during Hurricane Beryl, made sure they had supplies, and began coordinating and cooking for families who evacuated inland. As soon as it was safe, they started cooking again.”
Photos: Horace Freeman & Edson Jean
Members of the Westmoreland Police Division assist World Central Kitchen volunteers in offloading more than 2,500 hot meals from a relief helicopter, destined for residents most affected by Hurricane Melissa. (Photo: Horace Freeman)
Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton (circled) pauses en route to the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital to thank members of World Central Kitchen (WCK) and the Jamaica Constabulary Force for their relief efforts. Pictured at centre is WCK’s Chief Relief Officer Jason Collis.
Retired sprint legend Usain Bolt (centre) stopped by the World Central Kitchen operations hub to meet with Chief Relief Officer Jason Collis (second right) and team members (from left) Hannah Humphrey, Wioletta Wróbel-Szymaska, and Ki Thornberry, who, alongside local chefs and partners, are preparing thousands of hot meals daily for communities impacted by Hurricane Melissa.
Micheala Atkinson, a SAV Inclusive Academy volunteer, proudly poses with a sign: “Free WCK Meals”. She wants everyone in her community to know that hot meals will be ready for them every day.
Chef José Andrés (left), founder of World Central Kitchen, speaks with Chef Mathieu Masson-Duceppe (centre) and Jamie James, chairman of the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital, during a coordination visit as part of WCK’s ongoing hurricane relief operations in Jamaica. (Photo: Horace Freeman)
