The J Wray & Nephew Foundation (JWNF), in partnership with EdgeChem Jamaica Limited, has donated generators to 10 schools in St Elizabeth, ensuring that students who returned to classrooms in January could continue learning despite ongoing power challenges following Hurricane Melissa.

The donation of generators, a release from the foundation said, is part of a comprehensive relief effort that has seen JWNF mobilise more than 100 volunteers and distribute more than 3,000 care packages to affected families, with an additional $250 million donated to relief efforts by parent company Campari Group, through J Wray & Nephew Limited.

The release said the JWNF and EdgeChem Jamaica Limited partnership addresses one of the most pressing challenges facing schools in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa — the lack of reliable electricity. With power infrastructure severely damaged across the parish, many schools struggled to provide basic lighting, operate essential equipment, and maintain safe learning environments.

The generators will enable these institutions to resume normal operations, providing consistent power for lighting, computers, water pumps, and other critical educational resources.

According to JWNF Chairman JP Beyer, the foundation’s response has demonstrated the importance of quick mobilisation in providing both immediate relief and long-term recovery support through strategic partnerships.

“As students returned to school in January we recognised that many were walking into classrooms without electricity — no lights, no computers, no running water, in some cases. During our meetings with the community in December we heard stories of innovative ways school administrations are bringing power to schools, including using their cars to power offices.

“We believe that it is our duty to make this recovery period easier for the schools and so, through our partnership with EdgeChem Limited, we’ve been able to ensure that 10 schools now have the power they need to provide quality education,” Beyer said.

“Education cannot wait, and our children’s learning should not be held hostage by infrastructure challenges,” the JWNF chairman added. “We are seeing how the lack of basic light and water is having an impact on the attendance of students in many of the schools we support. These generators represent our commitment to ensuring that every student in our communities has access to the resources they need to succeed and re-enter the education system before it’s too late.”

Beyond the generator donations JWNF had expanded its relief efforts to address the diverse needs of families rebuilding their lives, the release said.

The foundation has distributed essential household items, including bed linen, pots, portable showers, solar lights, and power banks to residents in communities surrounding JWNF’s areas of operation.

The foundation said its relief approach has emphasised close coordination with local communities around their production sites at Appleton Estate in St Elizabeth while leveraging company employee volunteers to ensure aid reaches the most vulnerable populations.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green, who is also Member of Parliament for St Elizabeth South Western and has been active in coordinating relief efforts in his constituency, expressed gratitude for the move to address educational needs.

“We are grateful to all first responders, volunteers, and relief organisations, including JWN Foundation, that have been working tirelessly on the ground, bringing hope in a time of profound challenge,” Green said.

Meanwhile, EdgeChem Chief Operating Officer Mellissa McHaragh was once again heartened by the collaboration.

“The generator donations to our schools are particularly significant as they ensure our children’s education continues uninterrupted. We are heartened to be able to contribute to another impactful initiative. Based on the scale of devastation, all hands are needed on deck for any semblance of normalcy. As rebuilding begins, may we continue to support one another with generosity and resilience,” she said.

Acting principal of Thornton Primary and Infant School, Andre Spencer welcomed the sustained commitment to the community beyond disaster response, especially with the donation of the generators.

“We could not get documents to the Ministry [of Education] or get PEP [Primary Exit Profile] paperworks signed etc, nor were we able to take in any stock of chickens or any other meats for storage, so we had to change our menu. Now that we have received this generator it will help our school get back on track.

“We were given a Starlink that we could not use due to the absence of electricity, but now we can readily get communication back on track with the ministry through this gift from JWN Foundation,” he said.

The foundation said its team will continue working to coordinate relief efforts, provide emergency assistance, and support long-term recovery for the most vulnerable members of the community through strategic partnerships and sustained community engagement.

Principal of the Sydney Pagan Stem Academy Milbert Miller (left) and Oneil Larmond, principal of Siloah Primary, with one of the 10 generators that was gifted by the JWN Foundation and EdgeChem to the primary schools in St Elizabeth.