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A storm can level a home in minutes, but rebuilding a life takes an entire community working together. After Hurricane Melissa ripped through western Jamaica, we came back from the ground with a clear picture of what recovery really takes: food when cupboards are empty, safe water when systems fail, a temporary place to sleep, and then a rapid shift toward rebuilding homes and restoring livelihoods. The damage was uneven and often heartbreaking. Some neighborhoods stood untouched while others were flattened. Power lines were down for miles. Families were left wondering not only where they would sleep that night, but how they would earn a living the next morning.

In this episode, we walk you through what large scale relief actually looks like. Food For The Poor became the logistics backbone for partners like the World Food Programme, World Central Kitchen, and Global Empowerment Mission. Shipments were cleared. Thousands of family kits were packed every day. Aid moved quickly through a trusted church network that reaches deep into every part of the island. You will hear how volunteers and the Jamaica Defence Force kept assembly lines moving, how the Jamaican diaspora and private donors helped move faster, and how voices like Shaggy, Sean Paul, and Cedella Marley turned their influence into planes, pallets, and hot meals for families in need.

But the numbers only tell part of the story. Behind every shipment and every pallet is a person: a fisher who lost his boat, a farmer whose crops and chickens were washed away, a factory worker who may not see electricity for months, and children whose schools must be rebuilt while exam dates keep getting closer. We lay out a simple and focused 30, 60, and 90 day plan to connect emergency relief to long term recovery. That includes ShelterBox tents, rapid homebuilding, boat and engine repairs, new seed and livestock for farmers, and psychosocial support through local churches to help kids regain routine and stability.

If Jamaica has ever given you joy through its music, its culture, or simply its warmth, this is a moment to give some of that joy back. Listen to the episode. Share it with someone who cares about effective disaster relief. And if you are able, help us keep supplies moving and homes rising. Subscribe for updates, leave a review so others can find these stories, and consider supporting the rebuild so families can stand on steady ground again.

Beyond The Plate is a podcast by international charity, Food For The Poor

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Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm struck Jamaica on Tuesday October 28th. The devastation is so severe, the road to build back will be measured in months and years... not days. Food For The Poor, President/CEO, Ed Raine, unpacks how a deeply rooted network of partnerships and detailed preparation turns urgency into action: pre-positioned kits moving the moment the storm passes, church partners covering every corner of the island, and a command center that syncs government and private logistics to reach people without wasting a minute.

We discuss what matters first—clean water, hygiene, tarps, oral rehydration, women’s care kits, and baby supplies—and how blocked roads and power outages make coordination difficult. Ed widens the lens to see the damage: supermarkets and airport in Montego Bay flooded, hotels damaged, tourism paused, and wages stalled for thousands of families who rely on a steady economy. Recovery isn’t just cleaning mud and repairing roofs; it’s restarting lives. Once that happens, the long road of recovery begins: zinc and materials for homes, then training and market access for farmers and fishers tomorrow, so subsistence can become sustainable income.

Ed shares the personal stakes—staff still waiting to hear from loved ones, small towns hit hard, and the resilience that defines Jamaican communities. The goal is simple: meet urgent needs without losing sight of what brings dignity back to Jamaicans. Listen, share, and be part of the coordinated relief and rebuilding effort. Subscribe for updates, leave a review to help others find this story, and consider donating at www.foodforthepoor.org/Melissa25 to turn compassion into action.

To Donate to Hurricane Melissa Relief: www.foodforthepoor.org/Melissa25

Beyond The Plate is a podcast by international charity, Food For The Poor

Sign-up for our Best Bite and get exclusive access to our podcast, including food recipes from the 15 countries Food For The Poor serves, giveaways, e-books, and more. Click to join our Best Bite: https://bit.ly/BTP-bestbite

Instagram: @Beyondtheplate.podcast
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Youtube: Food for the Poor Beyond the Plate

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A cascade of small choices became a lifeline for families in Guatemala. James Ronaldo Meyer was raised in Wisconsin and he turned a childhood lesson about wasting water into a mission to build safe homes for families in Guatemala. From simple birthday gifts, school assemblies and a fundraiser to duct-taped his principal-- James’ story shows how local generosity can scale into lasting change. Along the way, we explore what it means to see Jesus in the poor and to trust that faith and persistence can open doors.

James took his first trip to Guatemala at age ten, seeing extreme poverty—leaking roofs and floors made of mud. Now he’s building homes with strong walls, solid doors, with dignity, and safety. He shares about the power of community groups like Rotary, Knights of Columbus, 4‑H, and parish families. Returning in 2023, James met Fidelia, who had lost her sight yet filled the room with thanks for a home that changed her days. He also honors his grandmother, Diane, whose memorial gifts now shelter another family.

James experienced major challenges to fundraising, but you’ll hear practical fundraising insights. Most of all, his adoption story that started this amazing journey of generosity. If you’ve ever wondered how your own circle could fund a home, this conversation will give you both the why and the how.

We celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month as we help keep the momentum going: visit foodforthepoor.org/together, subscribe for more stories, and share this episode with someone who loves turning small acts into big change... To donate and learn more;

www.foodforthepoor.org/together

www.foodforthepoor.org/juntos

“Sharing God’s Love in Guatemala” project - @sharinggodsloveinguatemala

Beyond The Plate is a podcast by international charity, Food For The Poor

Sign-up for our Best Bite and get exclusive access to our podcast, including food recipes from the 15 countries Food For The Poor serves, giveaways, e-books, and more. Click to join our Best Bite: https://bit.ly/BTP-bestbite

Instagram: @Beyondtheplate.podcast
TikTok: @Beyondtheplate.podcast
Youtube: Food for the Poor Beyond the Plate