Grocerylist Jamaica and Pocket Rocket Foundation Distribute Food to Jamaicans Affected By Hurricane Melissa
South Florida-based GroceryList Jamaica has partnered with Olympic legend Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce’s Pocket Rocket Foundation to distribute food to Jamaicans affected by Hurricane Melissa. The Category 5 hurricane struck the Caribbean country on October 29, causing widespread damage in rural parishes.
Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce gathers relief packages for distribution to persons affected by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica.Jermain Morgan, co-founder of GroceryList Jamaica, said Fraser Pryce, South Florida Caribbean Strong and Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) reached out to his organization for assistance to deliver care packages to the affected areas.
“The Pocket Rocket Foundation needed a fast, local logistics partner. We already had the delivery network. Shelly-Ann handles awareness and selects priority groups; we handle sourcing, packing, and last-mile delivery,” Morgan told Caribbean Today.
Utilising its network of over 250 stores and drivers, the GroceryList Jamaica team has moved water, canned food, rice, flour, baby formula, diapers, batteries, flashlights, tarps, basic hardware and fresh produce to communities where roads are open.
Fraser Pryce, a multiple gold medallist at the Olympics and World Championships, started the Pocket Rocket Foundation in 2014. A non-profit organization, it assists mainly student athletes in Jamaica.
Morgan, who is from Clarendon parish in central Jamaica, said GroceryList Jamaica went into full operational mode once they heard of Melissa’s catastrophic potential.
Alrick Johnson, Logistics Lead at GroceryList Jamaica (left) and Michael Capponi, owner of Global Empowerment Mission in Miami. The companies are coordinating relief efforts for Hurricane Melissa Victims in Jamaica.
“We activated islandwide relief within hours, using our 250+ store and driver network to deliver care packages, groceries, water, and hardware across all 14 (Jamaican) parishes. Diaspora customers can order online and have items delivered the same day to families, churches, schools, or nursing homes and shelters,” he disclosed.
South Florida Caribbean Strong, which comprises West Indian entrepreneurs, has been active since Hurricane Maria hit Florida and the Eastern Caribbean in 2017. It assists Caribbean countries affected by natural disasters.
GEM, based in Miami, was officially launched by American humanitarian Michael Capponi in 2016. It has assisted people affected by natural disasters and conflict in the United States, Haiti, Australia, Turkey and Ukraine.
Morgan, a graduate of Stanford University, and fellow Jamaican Rory Richards started GroceryList Jamaica three years ago. Richards, the company's CEO, is a graduate of Grand Canyon University and is also from central Jamaica. GroceryList Jamaica has quickly become the go-to online platform for Jamaicans in the Diaspora to purchase groceries directly from Jamaican stores, supporting Jamaican businesses while ensuring fast, reliable delivery to their families and organizations across the island.
