BH Paints, a leading Jamaican coatings manufacturer and member of the Harris Paints Group, has proudly donated funds to Food For The Poor (FFP) to support families still recovering from the catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Melissa, which devastated parts of the country eight months ago.

FFP, Jamaica’s largest charity known for emergency relief, hosted the presentation recently at its head office at Ellerslie Pen, Spanish Town, St Catherine. The BH team was given a walkthrough of the facilities to gain insight on the body of work undertaken by FFP.

Marvin Fletcher, sales manager of trade and retail operations for BH Paints, acknowledged that while one company cannot solve the immense challenges alone, the company’s ‘Stronger Together’ initiatives were tremendously impactful.

“We are a Jamaican company and BH Paints has been serving this community for 65 years. We are inextricably linked by our relationships, both personally and professionally, across this country,” explained Fletcher. “Beyond that, our company believes in supporting the countries in which we are located, providing investment, support and sustainable solutions, so we wanted to provide practical and meaningful support that would extend well into recovery”.

One of the major elements of the campaign was to commit a portion of proceeds from the sale of BH’s leading products to continue to fund relief efforts beyond the initial disaster response period, raising over $3,300,000 towards rebuilding.

The company also found many other creative ways to add value.

From the outset, BH Paints offered its retail stores as collection centres and logistical support. To ensure sustained access to quality paints, BH Paints extended its traditional seasonal discounts through the end of February. This allowed families and businesses to access professional-grade products for a longer period during their rebuilding efforts. The company also gave away 1,000 gallons of paint to residents through a community-focused promotion with no purchase required, providing a crucial “leg up” for those engaging in home repairs.

Head of BH Paint, Kurt Walcott, thanked Food For The Poor for their dedication and partnership. He applauded the charity’s proven track record of reaching vulnerable communities efficiently, and their vital work, delivering over 100,000 relief kits after the storm, noting their focus now on rebuilding and restoring livelihoods, and supplying building materials in partnership with local and international groups.

“Today we are happy to bring our commitment through the ‘Stronger Together’ initiative to fruition,” declared Walcott. “We owe a sincere debt of gratitude to the steadfastness of the BH team, our contractors, and our loyal customers who have enabled us to turn our commitment into tangible action, and by working together we are building a more resilient future.

The Harris Paints Group supplies residential, commercial and industrial paint solutions in more than 15 countries, including Jamaica, through BH Paints, the Caribbean and Latin American region.