Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
November 26, 2025
Disaster Orgs Ship 270K Meals to Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa
TLDR
- Operation BBQ Relief and Churches of Scientology Disaster Response gained operational advantage by efficiently coordinating volunteers to ship over 270,000 meals to Hurricane Melissa survivors.
- Operation BBQ Relief organized volunteers in Florida warehouses to pack non-perishable food into family meal boxes using assembly lines, forklifts, and air and truck transport logistics.
- This collaboration between disaster response organizations provided life-saving meals to Jamaican families facing hunger after Hurricane Melissa, demonstrating global humanitarian solidarity.
- Volunteers from multiple organizations worked together in a fast-paced warehouse operation packing thousands of meal boxes for hurricane survivors in an impressive display of community effort.
Impact - Why it Matters
This coordinated disaster response demonstrates how effective collaboration between multiple organizations can rapidly address critical humanitarian needs following natural disasters. When hurricanes strike vulnerable regions like Jamaica, the immediate food security of survivors becomes paramount, and these meal shipments provide essential nutrition during the crucial first weeks of recovery. The success of this operation shows how pre-established networks between disaster response organizations can mobilize quickly to save lives and reduce suffering. For communities facing increasing climate-related disasters, such efficient response systems become increasingly vital for resilience and recovery.
Summary
In the wake of Hurricane Melissa's devastating impact on Jamaica in October 2025, a remarkable coalition of disaster response organizations mobilized to address the urgent food crisis facing survivors. National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) coordinated efforts between Operation BBQ Relief, a US-based disaster non-profit, and Churches of Scientology Disaster Response (CSDR), which deployed its Volunteer Ministers from the Clearwater, Florida area. These organizations recognized that providing meals would be critical for families experiencing hunger and food insecurity in the hurricane's aftermath, leading to an intensive logistical operation at a Pinellas Park warehouse.
The collaboration involved hundreds of volunteers working alongside local government agencies and schools in a massive packing operation. The warehouse, equipped with forklifts, pallet jacks, and special tables provided by Amazon, became the hub for assembling thousands of food boxes containing non-perishable items. Volunteers worked tirelessly to pack two different box sizes designed to sustain a family of four for either three days (36 meals) or six days (72 meals). According to Doyle Mills, CSDR national executive who coordinated the Scientology volunteers, the operation required extensive planning and coordination, transforming the warehouse into a "loud, fast-paced machine" of volunteers labeling boxes, assembling food packages, and preparing shipments for transport.
The massive effort resulted in over 270,000 meals being shipped to Jamaica through both air and ground transportation. Some boxes were loaded directly onto small planes for quick delivery, while the majority were trucked to Miami for transport via large cargo aircraft. Mills emphasized that the success of this humanitarian mission stemmed from the collaborative spirit between all participating organizations, noting that while the work was challenging, volunteers found fulfillment in knowing they were helping those devastated by the hurricane. As immediate disaster response activities wind down, the organizations anticipate needing hundreds more volunteers for the next phase of recovery and rebuilding in the destroyed areas.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Disaster Orgs Ship 270K Meals to Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa
