Food For The Poor (FFTP) has partnered with Cedella Marley to raise funds to assist victims with the repair and replacement of thousands of zinc roofs damaged or destroyed by Category 4 Hurricane Beryl, which struck Jamaica and the Caribbean Islands last week.
Marley is the daughter of legendary Jamaican reggae musicians Bob Marley and Rita Marley.
“I have a lot of family and friends in Jamaica and I keep in touch with them a lot,” said Marley, who lives in South Florida. “They told me they were very concerned about the people who were hungry and homeless, especially the children.”
Marley visited FFTP’s headquarters in Coconut Creek, Florida, on Friday and Saturday to work with volunteers packing hygiene kits filled with everyday items people need during the crisis.
“People need help, which is why we’re working with Food for the Poor to provide much-needed supplies,” Marley said. “This is a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions.”
With many homes in need of new roofs or major roof repairs, the Bob and Rita Marley Foundation is working with FFTP to raise funds to provide zinc roofing materials and hurricane straps.
“We are honored to partner with Cedella Marley and the Bob and Rita Marley Foundation,” said Ed Lane, president and CEO of FFTP.
“The new roofs and materials for these repairs are critical to the families affected – they will provide safety, security and hope to people facing unimaginable hardship. With what is expected to be an active hurricane season, it is more important than ever that these roofs and repairs are completed quickly,” he continued.
Prior to the Jamaica storm, FFTP’s disaster preparedness kits for 500 households were ready to be deployed, and immediately after the storm, the charity delivered 400 packages (with another 140 by the end of the week) of food, hygiene kits, tarpaulins, waterproof boots and blankets to affected families in the six hardest-hit parishes of St. Mary, St. Thomas, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester and St. Elizabeth.
FFTP is also sending 53 containers of food, hygiene and medical supplies to ports or en route to affected areas, 27 of which are on their way to Jamaica.
Over 1,000 people in Jamaica have been displaced from their homes and are now in evacuation centres. Through partnerships, FFTP-Jamaica is supporting these evacuation centres, providing food, hygiene items, mattresses, bed linen and pillows.
Lane said FFTP is uniquely positioned to provide assistance through its network of more than 30 distribution centres across Jamaica, as well as its network of partners in the Windward Islands.
“Our teams are working with local partners to ensure vital assistance gets to those who need it most,” Lane said. “We are committed to helping these communities begin the process of recovery and rebuilding.”
