KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) Jamaica has strengthened its outreach efforts to support communities impacted by Hurricane Melissa, in keeping with its long-standing mission to serve the island’s most vulnerable.

The SVP, a worldwide Catholic Christian non-profit organisation founded in Paris, France, in 1833, operates in 153 countries. It has been active in Jamaica since 1904, beginning with the Trinity Conference at the Holy Trinity Cathedral under the leadership of Bishop Charles Gordon.

Today, the society has 33 active conferences islandwide, each attached to a Catholic church. Members provide both spiritual and material assistance, including prayer support, clothing, food, books, tuition, medication, transportation and even burial support for those in need.

Following Hurricane Melissa, the organisation reaffirmed its commitment to “provide physical and spiritual comfort to the suffering of our island”, noting that many were without food, shelter and hope.

President of the Society of St Vincent de Paul Jamaica, Patrice Mitchell, said members immediately began working with parishes to assess needs and deliver aid.

“We have asked our conference members to partner with the church so they have been doing assessments, they have been providing food packages,” she said.

Mitchell noted that distribution is already underway in some of the hardest-hit areas.

The society delivered 152 packages to Montego Bay and supported relief efforts at St Joseph’s Church in Falmouth.

Also in Falmouth, 100 care packages were distributed between All Saints in Refuge and African Martyrs of Uganda. Another 50 packages containing food and care items were distributed through Sacred Heart in Montego Bay.

Bags with clothing items for children and adults were also distributed.

The organisation also prepared additional special care boxes for priests to share with those affected. These boxes included toiletries, soap, shampoo and other hygiene essentials.

In addition, members from the St Paul de Cross Conference were deployed to conduct assessments in Magoty and Black River, where significant damage has also been reported.

The society says it will continue to provide support across affected communities as assessments progress and needs evolve.

— Carlysia Ramdeen