Since Hurricane Mellissa, Jamaican Mercy schools have received an outpouring of generosity and support from friends and partners worldwide. However, aside from solely being the recipients of others’ compassion, this has also been a time in which our schools have shown Mercy towards those outside of their own school communities.
From coin drives at Alpha Vocational Training Centre, to collections of food, clothing, toiletries and water at both Jessie Ripoll Primary and Alpha Primary – our school communities (involving students of all ages) have been greatly invested in doing their part to help those in need. Clubs have been integral in these interventions, as seen with Mt. St. Joseph Prep’s Red Cross club’s collection of non-perishable items, and with every one of Alpha Academy’s clubs organising their own unique drives! These outreaches have been coordinated in partnership with local organisations such as Digicel Foundation and the The Girl Guides Association of Jamaica.
Beyond our Mercy schools, our Laws Street ministry in Downtown Kingston has also been providing aid (i.e. food and essential care items) to those in need. Since Hurricane Melissa’s destruction, an influx of impoverished persons from devastated areas at the other end of the island have moved to Kingston for refuge and have now been added to our ministry’s beneficiary population. As such, the Laws Street ministry has moved from feeding 700 families bimonthly to now 800 families bimonthly.
While this has been an undeniably challenging time for us all, it has also provided wonderful opportunities to show the love and Mercy of Christ Jesus to our Jamaican brothers and sisters. We hope to continue being used by the Lord to reach those in need as Jamaica walks through the long road to recovery.
