WCK serves a million meals to hurricane-struck Jamaican communities

World Central Kitchen has reached a significant milestone in its response to Hurricane Melissa, delivering more than one million meals to affected families across Jamaica. Founder José Andrés announced the achievement last Saturday, praising the dedication of Jamaican volunteers, restaurants and chefs who have supported the effort. In a message to residents he noted that teams have been moving by road, sea and air to ensure that every community is reached.

The focus of the operation has been western Jamaica, the region that absorbed the worst of the Category Five storm. Melissa brought destructive winds and severe flooding that isolated towns and damaged infrastructure, leaving thousands without power or access to basic supplies.

To meet the scale of need, the organization established two major field kitchens in Montego Bay and Negril. With assistance from the Sandals Foundation, the Montego Bay Convention Center was quickly converted into a large production hub capable of preparing tens of thousands of meals daily. World Central Kitchen now distributes close to twenty thousand hot meals each day across the parishes of Hanover, St James, Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, Manchester, Clarendon and Trelawny, with more than thirty local restaurants supporting the operation.

In areas inaccessible by road, volunteers have relied on helicopters and small boats to reach stranded residents. Families staying in damaged schools in Bluefields, Belmont and Mearnsville receive meals daily, while air deliveries into Savanna la Mar have supplied food, water and essential items to cut off neighbourhoods.

For those unable to travel, the group conducts door to door deliveries. One example is Maurice, an eighty-year-old resident of Brighton in Westmoreland, who lost his roof during the storm and now depends on the daily visits of World Central Kitchen volunteers.

Local chefs have joined the operation by preparing familiar dishes including patties, stewed chicken and fresh fish, helping maintain a sense of normalcy for families recovering from the hurricane.

Andrés said the organization remains committed to supporting communities through food, water, solar lights and even evacuation assistance where required, adding that the mission is driven by respect for the people they serve.

Founded in 2010 after the Haiti earthquake, World Central Kitchen has provided emergency meals in disaster and conflict zones worldwide and continues to be active in regions facing humanitarian crises.

Photos from WCK 

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