BBF Provides Grant to Cross Catholic Outreach

BBF has provided a grant to Cross Catholic Outreach (CCO) to support emergency health and disaster response efforts in Jamaica following the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Melissa. The grant will help partners address urgent medical needs, transportation challenges, water and sanitation emergencies, and other critical relief priorities as communities work toward recovery.

On October 28, 2025, Hurricane Melissa made landfall in southwestern Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, bringing sustained winds exceeding 185 miles per hour. It was the most powerful storm ever recorded in the Atlantic Basin and the strongest Jamaica has faced in recent history. The hurricane caused widespread devastation across the island, including severe flooding, power and water outages, extensive infrastructure damage, and significant agricultural losses. In the weeks following the storm, health crises such as leptospirosis emerged, while many families remained displaced and without reliable access to clean water or healthcare. As of early December, emergency response efforts were ongoing, and long-term rebuilding plans were only beginning to take shape.

CCO is responding through trusted local partners in Jamaica, including the Diocese of Mandeville and the Compassionate Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, both of which are deeply embedded in the affected communities and actively engaged in relief efforts.

The Diocese of Mandeville serves the region where the hurricane first made landfall—an area that is vital to Jamaica’s agricultural economy. Crops in this region were entirely destroyed, and a school supported by CCO in the Black River area was completely flattened. The church adjacent to the school sustained major damage as well. Flooding has left the area cut off from the rest of the country, with communications still down, creating additional challenges for recovery and reconstruction.

In Montego Bay, the Compassionate Franciscan Sisters of the Poor were directly in the storm’s path as it exited the island. Their convent suffered extensive damage, including the loss of its roof, shattered windows, missing doors, and the complete disruption of electricity and municipal water services. Despite these conditions, the Sisters continue to serve their community and are playing a key role in local relief efforts.

CCO is currently coordinating logistics to ensure that food, medicine, and medical supplies reach affected communities, including exploring options to airlift critical supplies to Montego Bay. As a long-time and trusted partner, the Compassionate Franciscan Sisters of the Poor are well positioned to distribute aid and provide care to families impacted by the storm. While medical relief efforts are still in the early stages and conditions remain fluid, the grant from Brother’s Brother Foundation is helping partners respond to both immediate needs and emerging public health concerns.