KINGSTON, Jamaica — In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Food for the Poor says the organisation is prepared to help the nation rebuild, both immediately and for the long term.

Chief executive officer, Ed Raine, who has led the nonprofit for several years, spoke to Observer Online about the disaster and the role his organisation is playing in providing relief.

“Hurricane Melissa was a giant,” Raine stressed. “For those of us who have witnessed the devastation of previous storms like Hurricane Andrew, Dorian, and Maria, this one is a real wake-up call. The scale of damage is staggering, but we are thankful that it didn’t hit Kingston or Spanish Town directly, or we’d be looking at a much worse situation. We wouldn’t be able to operate.”

Food for the Poor, which has had a presence in Jamaica for 42 years, is already collaborating with organisations to distribute essential supplies across the island. In collaboration with organisations such as the World Food Program and World Central Kitchen, the charity has been working to get food, water, and hygiene kits to communities in urgent need.

“We’ve been busy packing supplies and getting them out quickly,” Raine said. “The priority has been food kits, water, and hygiene kits, but now we are shifting focus to shelter. Thousands of tarps have been distributed to help families protect themselves from the elements, but the real work begins when we start thinking about rebuilding homes.”

Food for the Poor has a long track record of rebuilding efforts. Over the last four decades, the charity has built more than 35,000 homes across the country, and now, as communities begin to assess the full extent of the damage, the organisation is preparing for another major reconstruction effort.

“We’re planning for the long haul,” Raine continued. “The first step is ensuring that we provide emergency shelter, but after that, we need to look at what long-term rebuilding will look like. We’ll be constructing new homes, but it requires significant funding. It’s a big undertaking, but we know how to do it.”

While shelter remains a top priority, Raine emphasised that the storm’s impact extends far beyond physical structures. Many families have lost not only their homes but their livelihoods as well. For many, the path to recovery will also require support in rebuilding their income sources.

“Getting people back on their feet will require more than just providing shelter,” Raine said. “We need to help people get back to work. We’re looking at micro-enterprise programs, providing farmers with tools, seeds, and equipment so they can rebuild their farms and get back to their livelihoods. That’s just as critical as rebuilding homes.”

Raine also pointed to the long-term commitment of Food for the Poor, which has earned the trust of various international and local partners to provide sustainable aid in the aftermath of the storm.

“We’ve seen communities in places like Black River and Crawford that are completely devastated,” he said. “It’s not just about what people have lost in terms of their homes; it’s about their ability to earn a living. That’s why we’re committed to not just responding now, but being here for the long run to help people rebuild their lives from the ground up.”

As the recovery process unfolds, Food for the Poor remains focused on providing holistic support, not just for the immediate aftermath of the storm, but for the years of work needed to restore normalcy to affected communities.

“We are here for the long term,” Raine shared. “Our mission is to help rebuild homes, but also to restore hope, rebuild livelihoods, and get people back on track. We’ve been doing this for 42 years, and we’re not stopping now.”

Food for the Poor is urging the public to continue supporting its efforts as recovery in Jamaica begins, with a focus on long-term sustainability and community empowerment.