Amidst the continued rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Melissa, Pepsi-Cola Jamaica (PCJ) visited Trelawny Northern with supplies and a day of festivities to support recovery and restore a sense of joy for families in Duanvale and Sherwood districts on December 5.

Alongside partners KFC, Pizza Hut Jamaica, Frankie Music Productions and Vantage One, PCJ distributed 1,000 cases of water, 1,000 meals, toys, chilled beverages, and other donated supplies to the two communities. Fifty sheets of plywood were also supplied to the office of the Member of Parliament, Tova Hamilton whose office will manage and distribute them based on community needs.

But perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of the visit for residents was the joyful atmosphere created by a volunteer crew of entertainers, including Desha Davis, Munga Honourable, members of the groups RDX and Voicemail, and other familiar content creators who spent the day engaging with residents, performing, and helping distribute relief supplies. 

Pepsi-Cola Jamaica Corporate Affairs representative, Bianca Fakhourie, expressed that, “Although weeks have passed, families in Trelawny are picking up the pieces both physically and emotionally. That’s why we felt it was important not just to show up with essentials, but to show up with partners, volunteers and artistes who could bring a little light into what has been a very difficult time. As we enter the festive season, experiences like today help restore hope and help keep us connected. This balance of practical relief and emotional support is what our  ‘JamaICAN: We Rise Together’ platform is all about.” 

In addition, a representative from the Office of the Member of Parliament for Trelawny Northern, Javon Bent, noted that the communities of Duanvale and Sherwood are still recovering from significant setbacks after Hurricane Melissa. Bent explained that residents faced severe disruption, with some families losing their homes and many being “marooned for days” as access routes were cut off. He said the prolonged strain has been difficult not only physically, but mentally, as people continue to ask when life will return to normal.

Bent expressed that the gesture from PCJ and its partners offered both relief and reassurance, stating that while the supplies are critical, the emotional upliftment was just as meaningful for families still trying to regain a sense of stability. 

“A day like today means a great deal,” he said, noting that the support brings practical help but also “a moment of cheer that our people truly needed.” Bent added that these kinds of partnerships remind residents that “they are not forgotten, and that brighter days are still ahead.”

Meanwhile, one resident of Duanvale, Anne-Marie Robinson, who is a janitor at the local primary school and a mother of seven, shared that the past weeks have been overwhelming for her family. 

With no electricity or running water and only tarpaulin covering parts of her roof, she said daily life has been a struggle, especially for the younger children in her household who still speak about the storm with fear. Robinson said that Christmas will be uncertain this year, with traditions like the Grand Market set to be disrupted. She said the relief effort offered a welcome moment of support.

“We are grateful. Thank you, Pepsi, for coming to Duanvale to help out the people who were affected by Melissa,” she said. “The children were looking forward to today, and I just hope everyone appreciates the help, just like I do.”

The relief effort, which also featured a blue-clad Santa giving out toys to the Duanvale and Sherwood children, falls under PCJ’s relief platform, JamaICAN: We RIse Together. Through the platform, PCJ will continue to provide essential support in conjunction with local authorities and other partners.