A team from the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) journeyed to western Jamaica last Tuesday to deliver care packages to elderly citizens impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

Using the J$800,000 earned from their NDTC benefit in July, CCRP initiated a widespread relief effort in partnership with Food For The Poor (FFTP) and the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC). The CCRP-PROComm team headed to Westmoreland with a convoy, carrying food, water, hygiene items, and other essential supplies, for areas including Petersfield, Amity, and Savanna-la-Mar.

The team delivered care items to the elderly at the Petersfield High School shelter, to elderly shut-ins through Reverend Johnson of the Wesleyan Church and the Savanna-la-Mar office of the NCSC.

In St. Elizabeth, CCRP parish representative Joan Martin led distributions across Malvern and neighbouring communities, delivering care packages to seniors in need. Additionally, the Breds Foundation has been supporting CCRP’s outreach by handing out care packages in Treasure Beach and surrounding areas.

Further support reached Trelawny and St. James through the dedicated work of Parish Representative Rosalee Lewis, who coordinated with the NCSC to ensure elderly persons in Trelawny and Catherine Hall received assistance. Taina Lowe-Williams, whose mother is a CCRP member, and her family joined the initiative and helped distribute care packages in Bluefields, Belmont, Whitehouse, and other communities across Westmoreland.

CCRP has also delivered packages of care items, cases of water and protein drinks and adult hygiene products to the head office of the National Council for Senior Citizens in Kingston whose parish officers have been on the ground, bringing relief and comfort to the elderly.

Executive chair Jean Lowrie-Chin noted, “What we have done is really a drop in the bucket. The need is great, and we have also committed all proceeds from our Living Legacy Awards event to assist in purchasing material for roof repairs.”

The CCRP encourages members of the public to join in relief efforts by contributing supplies or making donations to assist with the recovery of the island’s seniors directly or through Food for the Poor Jamaica.