KINGSTON, Jamaica — Couples Resorts says through its charitable arm the Issa Trust Foundation, it has raised roughly US$455,000, including a direct US$100,000 contribution from the resort group itself, to support employees and their communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

The funds are being used to provide immediate relief and long-term rebuilding for staff members whose homes were damaged or destroyed, while maintaining wages and employment stability throughout the recovery period.

Initial response efforts focused on urgent needs, with care packages consisting of food, water, batteries, flashlights and other essentials distributed across impacted areas.

More than 100 displaced employees were provided temporary housing, allowing them to remain close to work and retain stability during the crisis. Couples Resorts continued full wage payments during this time.

According to a release, a transparent disaster relief fund was quickly established, attracting donations from repeat guests, partners and supporters worldwide. Assistance is being allocated according to the severity of damage sustained by each household.

“The Issa Trust Foundation — whose core mission is pediatric healthcare — made the decision after Hurricane Melissa to prioritise rebuilding the damaged and destroyed homes of our staff,” said Paul Issa, chairman of the Issa Trust Foundation. “Thanks to the generosity of our many donors, we are now actively doing that.”

Couples Resorts reopened to guests on December 1, while recovery efforts intensified.

A volunteer construction initiative led by Dirk Bartolizzi of Bartolizzi Homes in Wisconsin, along with advisory board members Rob Barkema and Chris Panetta, deployed teams to Westmoreland, focusing on employees from Couples Negril and Couples Swept Away, the two properties most severely impacted.

Volunteers worked side-by-side with families, delivering building supplies, restoring damaged homes, and providing emotional support. The team is scheduled to return in the new year to continue repairs.

“For 20 years we have witnessed Jamaica’s unbreakable spirit,” said Diane Pollard, president and CEO of the Issa Trust Foundation.

“After Melissa, that spirit rose again. Our volunteers came not only to build homes but to care for families during one of the hardest moments of their lives.”

Bartolizzi emphasised the urgency of the work.

“When a family loses their home, time matters. Our goal is to rebuild quickly, safely and give families back their sense of security, ” said Bartolizzi.

Couples Resorts operates four properties: Couples Tower Isle, Couples Sans Souci, Couples Swept Away and Couples Negril.
Company officials say the post-Melissa response is part of a long-term recovery strategy focused on housing, family stability, community resilience and continued investment in healthcare and education through the Issa Trust Foundation.

As rebuilding continues into the new year, the organisation maintains that restoring a home represents more than physical reconstruction — it restores dignity, stability and hope for the future.