Hurricane-Melissa
Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt, Second Counselor in the Caribbean Area Presidency, ministers to local members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Jamaica following the devastation from Hurricane Melissa.© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Following the passage of Hurricane Melissa through Jamaica with sustained winds of 185 mph in late October, 2025 — which left countless families homeless, houses destroyed and essential services disrupted — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has joined with the Jamaican people to provide humanitarian aid and spiritual support. More than 50 volunteers — many of whom were themselves directly affected by the disaster, with homes damaged, flooded or even destroyed — organized to serve their fellow citizens, showing deep commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Despite their own losses, volunteers helped prepare and distribute over 1,000 emergency packages containing non-perishable food, bottled water and basic hygiene items.
Hurricane Melissa
One of the main avenues in Santa Cruz City, Jamaica, following the devastation from Hurricane Melissa.© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.These donations reached families in Junction, Santa Cruz, Mandeville, Savanna-la-Mar, Hopeton, and Montego Bay, bringing immediate relief and hope to hundreds of people. In Savanna-la-Mar, the Church worked closely with the Jamaica Red Cross and The Salvation Army, providing essential supplies such as shelter tools, blankets, tarpaulins and cleaning and hygiene products. The goal was to improve living conditions for those facing displacement and severe hardship. Each relief package was designed to sustain a family of four for one week.
The effort was directed by Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt, Second Counselor in the Caribbean Area Presidency, together with representatives from the Welfare Department, local leaders and dozens of volunteers. Organizations such as the Jamaica Red Cross and The Salvation Army joined in collaboration to strengthen the aid distribution, while coordination with other national institutions continues.
Hurricane Melissa
Volunteers in Savana-la-Mar, Jamaica, help prepare and distribute over 1,000 emergency packages containing non-perishable food, bottled water and basic hygiene items.© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.In Savanna-la-Mar, the community noted that the Church of Jesus Christ was the first organization to reach out and offer help after the disaster.
On Sunday, November 3, even with the meetinghouse in poor condition, members gathered to worship and express their faith and devotion to Jesus Christ. Elder Corbitt attended the meeting in the Savanna-la-Mar Branch, where he emphasized, “The Lord has aligned the keys of His power to identify those in need. Thus He built His Church — to go and rescue His sheep.”
With faith and hope, members transformed their worship into action, going out to bless their community and to testify — through their deeds — of the love of the Savior, Jesus Christ.