Beyond The Plate – A Podcast by Food For The Poor

Ep. 26 - FFTP Responds: CEO Ed Raine on Hurricane Melissa


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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  

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Beyond The Plate – A Podcast by Food For The PoorBy Food For The Poor