NCB Foundation, GEM mobilise Hurricane Melissa relief supplies
/ Our Today
administrator
Drawing on foresight and experience with national disasters, NCB Foundation, Lyn Family Trust/Island Grill, the American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ), and Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) acted swiftly to mobilise emergency relief supplies to Jamaica following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
The Category 5 hurricane caused widespread destruction across southern and western Jamaica. On the first day that Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) reopened, two GEM-chartered airlifts arrived with generators, hydration kits, clean water, sanitation supplies and food for affected communities.
The operation was made possible through a combined US$70,000 donation from NCB Foundation, the Lyn Family Trust/Island Grill and AFJ. GEM, recognised globally for its expertise in large-scale disaster logistics, coordinated sourcing, packing, airlift, and ground distribution alongside local partners.
“Having experienced Jamaica’s vulnerability to natural disasters over the years, we understood the need to move quickly,” said Thalia Lyn, Chair of NCB Foundation and Lyn Family Trust, and Founder of Island Grill. “AFJ is a powerful matching-funds partner, and GEM’s support was incredible—not only ensuring these supplies reached Jamaica, but that they got to the people who needed them most. This collaboration shows the strength of what happens when we all step up together.”
Michael Capponi, Founder and President of Global Empowerment Mission, commended Lyn’s proactive outreach before the storm made landfall. “Before Hurricane Melissa struck, Thalia contacted GEM and offered to help us mobilise support for Jamaica immediately,” he said. “That foresight meant we could pre-position supplies and coordinate with national agencies and other partners to get help to those most affected as quickly as possible.”
The relief items were distributed in partnership with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to some of the hardest-hit parishes, including St Elizabeth, Westmoreland and St James.
Comments