Jamaica 4-H Foundation Receives $1M To Support Hurricane-Affected Youth Farmers

The Living Well Community Care Centre, in partnership with Driscoll’s Berries Company, officially handed over a cheque valued at $1,000,000 to the Jamaica 4-H Foundation 2016 Limited, to support youth farmers impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

The handover ceremony was held on Friday (March 27) at the Foundation’s headquarters on Duke Street in Kingston.

Managing Director of the Jamaica 4-H Foundation 2016 Limited, Peter Thompson, expressed gratitude to the two entities, pointing out that this is not the first that the Living Well Community Care Centre, a United States-based foundation, has provided assistance in the aftermath of the category-five storm.

“After Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica, we reached out to several of our partners, and one of such partners was the Living Well Community Care Foundation out of Florida, and the organisation responded positively, and we received support valued millions of dollars,” Mr. Thompson said.

The prior support included the distribution of more than 2,500 care packages across St. Elizabeth, Trelawny, St. James, and Hanover; and the establishment of medical outreach clinics that delivered critical healthcare services across five parishes, reaching more than 4,000 hurricane-affected individuals.

Mr. Thompson noted that while the 4-H Foundation did provide support from their own sources, the assistance from Living Well Community Care Centre advanced much of their efforts.

The recent donation will go even further to support youth resilience, agricultural recovery, and rural development.

“We subsequently reached out again for additional support for our youth farmers who would have sustained significant damage to their enterprises… and we are grateful,” he said.

Mr. Thompson emphasised that this collaboration among Living Well Community Care Centre, Driscoll’s Berries Company, and the 4-H Foundation represents only the first phase of their collective efforts.

“I believe this support will go a long way. I mean, we are still trying to garner more support, but we believe it’s a start. So, we thank you very much for the team and the support that you have provided, and we will continue to work together, not only for agriculture but also for other endeavours,” the Director said.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Living Well Community Care Centre, Dr. Joan Williamson, noted that assisting the 4-H Foundation was a natural extension of their mission, particularly since many of the Centre’s members are from Jamaica and felt the direct impact of Hurricane Melissa.

“So, it is with great honour that we were able to procure the $1 million from [Driscoll’s Berries Company] to ensure that our youth continue in agriculture. Not everyone is going to be a doctor; not everyone is going to be a lawyer; we still are very passionate about agriculture. We must eat, and we must eat healthy,” she said.

Dr. Williamson maintained that the Living Well Community Care Centre believes in the empowerment of youth and will continue to provide support through other sponsors in the United States, as well as within the diaspora, to ensure that Jamaica recovers strong from Hurricane Melissa.

Senior Production Manager at Driscoll’s Berries Company, Rickie Holness, shared similar sentiments and committed to soliciting additional funds to further recovery efforts.