The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Cayman has sent a relief container to Jamaica after the damage from Hurricane Melissa. The organization mobilized support and resources from the community to help those who were hit hardest.
According to ADRA Cayman Director Edris Ocho, the group acted quickly by asking for donations from the public and partners to gather food, sanitary items, and monetary contributions. “We went through the process of soliciting items from the public and also from those willing to assist with cash funds,” Ocho said. “We have been sorting, packing, and labeling these items to ensure they are in good condition when they reach their destination.”
The relief effort, based at the George Town Seventh-day Adventist Hall, has collected over $30,000 USD worth of goods along with additional donations. They prioritized food and sanitary items, successfully delivering more than 2,000 pounds of supplies by light aircraft. Ocho mentioned that the collaboration included Adventist-Laymen’s Services & Industries (ASI) Inter-American Division, represented by Rohan Riley, and the Cayman alumni chapter of Northern Caribbean University.
“Whenever disaster strikes, we are not concerned about who receives aid. It’s not about religion,” Ocho emphasized. “You could be Baptist, Catholic, or not attend any church at all. We ensure that everything we do focuses on humanity.”
In addition to immediate relief, ADRA Cayman has started building one-bedroom structures to meet urgent housing needs. This effort focuses on single parents, mothers with children, and seniors. “We have started that; we are going to build these structures with a priority on single parents, mothers with children, and seniors. We are happy to continue this process. This will not be the last,” Ocho said.
ADRA Cayman runs entirely on volunteers, which guarantees that every dollar donated goes directly to relief projects. “We are an organization where everyone volunteers. Nobody is paid. If anyone gives a dollar, it goes directly to that specific project,” Ocho explained.
People who want to support the ongoing relief efforts can visit adracayman.org for more information and donation details.
Cayman Islands | Written by: Devarro Whittaker, Photo and Video: Devarro Whittaker
