In November 2024, a $43M donation from UNICEF to NCB Foundation’s Building a Better Jamaica Fund enabled the rapid mobilisation of a nutrition programme for families with young children impacted by Hurricane Beryl.

Since January, over 3,300 nutrition packages have been distributed, with the remaining deliveries continuing throughout the back-to-school period. In total, 5,400 buckets of food will be provided, reaching 2,700 families. Each household receives two buckets at separate intervals. The buckets contain a balanced mix of non-perishable foods from each food group, prepared in keeping with nutrition guidelines provided by UNICEF. 

“Although the Fund officially closed in July, it did not feel right to stop the work we’re doing because the needs of so many families were still so clear,” said Perrin Gayle, Chief Executive Officer of NCB Foundation. “Some parents are still trying to put their lives back together, and that is even more challenging as we go into the Back-to-School season. Building a better Jamaica means showing up for families in need and helping them give their children the resources and support they deserve.”

Distribution efforts have targeted St Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester and St Elizabeth, the parishes hardest hit by Hurricane Beryl, with priority given to low-income families and those raising children with disabilities.

Mohammad Mohiuddin, Country Representative Officer in Charge at UNICEF Jamaica, added: “At UNICEF, we know that good nutrition is the foundation for a child’s development. In emergencies, it becomes even more critical. Malnutrition can set back a child’s future in irreversible ways. That is why this initiative is so vital, and why we are deeply grateful to the NCB Foundation for their leadership, generosity and vision. Through the Building a Better Jamaica Fund, they have not only provided resources but also inspired others to act and multiplied our impact.”

Food for the Poor Jamaica has overseen procurement, packaging and distribution, while the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Early Stimulation Programme, under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, have ensured that families most in need are identified and supported.