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Today marks one month since #HurricaneMelissa devastated parts of #Jamaica, unleashing one of the most destructive crises the island ever faced.
In just 30 days, GEM through our smart partnership model executed one of the largest humanitarian mobilizations in Jamaica’s recent history:
• 2,034 pallets of emergency aid
• $5,876,347.89 in total relief value
• 3,029,072 lbs of supplies delivered (1,374 metric tons)
• Transported through 25 planes, 24 containers, and 3 ships * Servicing 101 locations
* Over 50 helicopter drops
From the first hours after landfall, GEM—working closely with the Government of Jamaica, ODPEM, JDF, IOM, the NCB Foundation, Royal Caribbean, AFJ and our broader network—activated a nationwide rapid-response operation focused on speed, scale, and dignity.
Across impacted parishes, our teams have delivered mass food distributions, hygiene kits, clean-water support, medical facility stabilization, and tarpaulin roofing to help health centers safely reopen. These efforts embody our smart-partnership model: lean operations, high efficiency, and an unwavering commitment to getting resources directly to the families who need them most.
Special thanks to all our partners who make this possible:
@sflcaribbeanstrong @lyn.thalia @afjcares @good360usa @romarley @iomjamaica @wegmans @bobmarleyfoundation @irie @iriefoundation @ghettoyouthsfoundation @goldeneye @direalshaggy @goldeneye_foundation @iom.jamaica @bethennyfrankel @airlink @foodforthepoorja @jdfsoldier @tdbank_us @wegmans @bankunited.official @crownfoundation @mairoliver @marlonhill
This video captures the first month of impact—the resilience, the challenges, the hope, and what we can continue building together as Jamaica moves toward long-term recovery.#Bstrong
Happy Thanksgiving from Global Empowerment Mission
This Thanksgiving, we want to express our deepest gratitude to each of you—our partners, donors, volunteers, and supporters around the world. Your unwavering commitment fuels every mission we undertake and every life we are able to touch.
Global Empowerment Mission has grown into a truly disruptive force in disaster relief and long-term recovery because of people like you. Together, we are able to deliver rapid, life-saving aid in the critical hours after a disaster strikes, and just as importantly, we stay for the long haul—helping families and communities rebuild stronger, safer, and more resilient than before.
Thanks to your trust and partnership, GEM is recognized as one of the most effective and accountable nonprofits in the field. We are honored to hold Charity Navigator’s 4-star rating. That level of impact is only possible because you stand with us.
On this day of gratitude, we celebrate you. Thank you for believing in our mission, for showing up when the world needs it most, and for helping us bring hope, dignity, and meaningful recovery to communities facing their hardest moments.
From all of us at GEM—Happy Thanksgiving.
We are grateful for your partnership, your heart, and your continued support. ~Team GEM
As of today, @globalempowermentmission — through its Smart Partnership Model — has delivered $5.8 million in aid to #Jamaica utilizing a combined logistics network of 25 cargo planes, 24 shipping containers, and 3 @royalcaribbean vessels. In total, this mission has moved 2035 pallets, representing 1.4 million metric tons of humanitarian aid to impacted communities.
This represents only the first phase of a much larger series of rebuilding initiatives that GEM will begin implementing by January 2026. Special thanks to all our partners who make this all possible. @sflcaribbeanstrong @lyn.thalia @afjcares @good360usa @romarley @iomjamaica @bobmarleyfoundation @irie @iriefoundation @ghettoyouthsfoundation @goldeneye @direalshaggy @goldeneye_foundation
@iom.jamaica @bethennyfrankel @airlink @foodforthepoorja @jdfsoldier
Our @globalempowermentmissionmena branch, in close partnership with @samaritanspurse and @hcicanada has been working around the clock to support families facing the harsh winter months. Together, we have supplied tens of thousands of families with durable winter tents, warm clothing, and essential relief items.
This coordinated effort is helping protect some of the region’s most vulnerable communities from severe cold, giving families safety, warmth, and dignity during an extremely difficult season.
This weekend, GEM West, in partnership with @rotarydistrict5280 came together for a powerful Recovery Pop-Up in the Palisades; beautifully hosted by the Pali LTRG at the American Legion.
Although rooted in the Palisades, this event opened its arms to all fire survivors across the region. We were humbled to welcome families from Malibu, Topanga, and even Altadena residents currently staying in Santa Monica area.
With 38 incredible partners and service providers standing beside us, offering long-term recovery support, childcare resources, kids zone, hot meals from the Southern Baptists, music, acupuncture, distribution items, and so much more, the day was a reminder of what true community looks like. We are honored to bring love, light, and compassion to families walking through some of the darkest and most uncertain chapters of their lives. Our mission is simple: to walk with them, hand in hand, as they navigate the road to recovery. Almost $500K in aid and resources to 277 families, 695 individuals, 60 volunteers - 32 of them from our rotary partners.
“GEM West teams work very hard to work with everyone so we don’t forget anyone,” says GEM West Director, Elizabeth Jernberg. Today reflected the heart of real recovery: we listen, we hear, and we show up with solutions.”
You are not alone. You are never forgotten. #LA #fires #GEM #Bstrong To learn more visit the link in our bio section. Thank you @good360usa for providing so much good.
We’re honored to announce a powerful new partnership between @foodforthepoorinc @foodforthepoorja and @globalempowermentmission. This partnership is aimed to accelerate life-saving relief for families in #Jamaica devastated by #HurricaneMelissa.
Together, our organizations will co-produce tens of thousands of food and @good360usa hygiene kits. These kits contain staple food items and essential hygiene supplies to support families experiencing severe loss and disruption.
This collaboration brings together FFTP’s extensive in-country logistics and distribution network with GEM’s rapid packaging, shipping, and large-scale emergency response capabilities. By combining strengths, we are able to act with greater speed, reach, and compassion in the hardest-hit regions.
As part of this partnership, GEM will also produce food kits to support field operations under the GEM @iom.jamaica tarp installation program, ensuring families who lost roofs and shelter receive both structural support and immediate relief.
GEM has been on the ground in Jamaica since Hurricane Beryl, repairing over 735 roofs and delivering more than $5 million in aid since Melissa’s landfall. With this new partnership, both organizations are scaling up for a sustained, long-term commitment to support Jamaica through this challenging chapter.
This is solidarity in action—and together, we are stronger for the people of Jamaica. @afjcares is supporting this program along with @ncbfoundation and @wegmans.
Jamaica Health Sector Update: GEM in partnership with @iom.jamaica @iom.caribbean & @afjcares has been working around the clock to support Jamaica’s health-sector recovery following the devastating impact of #HurricaneMelissa. The destruction across the island has been unprecedented — with hundreds of health centers & hospitals damaged or destroyed — leaving hundreds of thousands of families without reliable access to essential care.
To help stabilize the public-health system and restore lifesaving services, we have launched an urgent program to install durable temporary roofing solutions using high-grade tarpaulins and structural reinforcements. These temporary roofs enable medical teams to safely reopen facilities and resume operations for thousands of patients. In 2026, this program will expand to include full repairs and restoration.
This operation is being carried out under the direction and oversight of Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, Chief Medical Officer of Jamaica, in close coordination with the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
In addition to temp roof restoration, we are supporting the wider public-health network with essential supplies, including:
• Heavy-duty tarpaulins and complete shelter kits for displaced healthcare workers, essential service providers, and vulnerable households.
• Urgently needed bottled water, cleaning products, and hygiene supplies delivered to Parish Managers for distribution across hospitals, clinics, and health facilities in each parish.
Completed Health Centers – Westmoreland:
• Darliston, Cornwall Mountain, Williamsfield, Baulk, George’s Plain, Grange Hill, Jerusalem, Little London, Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland Health Department, Beeston Spring, New Hope-Beeston Spring, Whitehouse, Bethel Town, Lambs River, Negril
St. Elizabeth, Newmarket, Maggotty ,Brases River, Hanover in progress, Noel Holmes Hospital
Overall GEM Impact to Date - This initiative is just one of many emergency programs underway. To date, GEM has already delivered:
•Pallets: 1,702
•Value: $4,918,733.29
•Weight: 2,209,490 lbs
•Planes: 21
•Containers: 18
•Ships: 2 (to learn more or donate please visit the link in our bio above) #jamaica
GAZA UPDATE — Our @globalempowermentmission MENA branch has significantly increased its operational output across Gaza since summer 2025.
Coordinating large-scale humanitarian response efforts is never simple — it requires extraordinary logistical coordination, proven systems, and precision at every level. True impact depends on the seamless alignment of methods, infrastructure, and partnerships working in unison to deliver life-saving aid where it’s needed most. GEM ensures donors that aid gets distributed directly into civilian hands. We don’t do drops, we meet the families and bring not only aid but smiles and hope.
GEM MENA is now scaling up operations even more to expand both reach and efficiency throughout the region. This expansion would not be possible without the shared vision, resources, and unwavering commitment of our partners. We extend our deepest gratitude to @hcicanada , @rapidreliefteam_uk, @samaritanspurse, @wop_ev , and many others who make this work possible. #Humanity @globalempowermentmissionmena
Our teams are working diligently around the clock to support families across #Jamaica. This short video highlights GEM’s critical efforts in the shelter sector — providing safe, spaces for those who have lost everything. This includes community centers, health centers, shelters, and homes. GEM Caribbean’s work on shelter is executed in partnership with IOM as an implementing partner.
At the same time, we’re moving large quantities of food and essential non-food items (NFIs) through our international & national network of warehouses, hubs, and local partners to ensure that aid reaches even the most remote and affected communities. Thank you @good360usa & @amazon for 100 + generators.
Together, we’re scaling up our temporary roof program to be able to help address the 122,531 assessed homes that have been damaged by #hurricanemelissa. @globalempowermentmission @iom.jamaica @iom.caribbean @romarley @bobmarleyfoundation
First series of photos from GEM’s 15-year anniversary kick off campaign. This was an immersive celebration at our 60,000-square-foot @prologis warehouse. The event took place at our global headquarters which fuels our worldwide disaster-response operations.
What began as a small grassroots initiative has evolved into one of the most innovative and effective forces in global disaster relief. Today, GEM’s nine international branches deliver rapid, life-saving assistance within hours of disaster striking, while simultaneously executing long-term recovery programs that help communities rebuild stronger, safer, and more resilient than before.
The milestone event was hosted by Founder and President @michaelcapponi together with GEM’s Executive Board. In a powerful address, Capponi shared the organization’s remarkable journey — from its inception during the 2010 Haiti earthquake response to becoming a global model for efficiency, accountability, and compassion in humanitarian aid.
The evening featured a special video message from Miami-Dade County Mayor @mayordlc recognizing GEM’s longstanding partnership with the county and its unwavering commitment to both local and international relief efforts. Several aid recipients also shared emotional testimonials, describing how GEM’s support transformed their lives in times of profound crisis.
Adding an artistic dimension to the celebration, Miami-based artist @petertunney donated several original works for auction, with proceeds directly supporting GEM’s ongoing global missions.
Distinguished guests and dignitaries in attendance included @romarley, @indiahicksstyle , Former Miss Jamaica and Miss World @toniannsingh , Patrick Morris, @mattibower Commissioner @daniellecohenhiggins , @darielfernandez , @alinagarciamiami @councilwomandignacabral , and @fabiolastuyvesant — each representing the diverse network of partners, supporters, and changemakers who have helped power GEM’s mission over the past decade and a half. @globalempowermentmission
Yesterday, GEM successfully delivered the first large convoy of five trucks into Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, #Jamaica. The Westmoreland Parish is where the eye of #hurricanemelissa made landfall. Our teams, with the security support of @jdfsoldier and coordination with @odpem and @mlssjamaica are bringing essential relief to one of the hardest-hit regions.
Through our Smart Partnership Model, we’re able to amplify our impact and accelerate aid delivery across the island. Special thanks to all our key partners whose support makes large-scale missions like this possible.
Simultaneously, our GEM Caribbean branch in Kingston continues to play a vital role — supplying regional hubs, local organizations, and partner networks with the critical resources needed to reach the greatest number of people in the shortest amount of time.
Special thanks to all our other partners whose collective support has helped us with our distribution plans and goals.
@sflcaribbeanstrong @lyn.thalia @afjcares @good360usa @romarley @iomjamaica @bobmarleyfoundation @irie @iriefoundation @julianrmarley @goldeneye @goldeneye_foundation
@iom.jamaica @bethennyfrankel @airlink #bstrong
We are rapidly moving large-scale humanitarian aid into Jamaica through our Smart Partnership Model — a proven system that brings together logistics, product donors, and global transport partners to maximize impact.
Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) is proud to collaborate with @airlinkflight and @dhlus @dhl_global ensuring critical supplies reach the hardest-hit regions efficiently and effectively.
This hurricane has been catastrophic on every level, devastating a highly populated island and affecting over 2 million people. @globalempowermentmission is spearheading the supply chain flow, mobilizing our extensive network of hundreds of product donors, including @Good360, to deliver essential relief.
A heartfelt thank you to all our generous transport and logistics partners whose support makes these missions possible. To date, we have brought in over 500 Metric Tonnes (1.1 M lbs) of critical life saving supplies into #Jamaica. #hurricanemelissa
Our main objectives are to deliver the most amount of aid, to the most amount of people in need, in the shortest amount of time and with the least amount of costs to our donors. This also applies to our rebuilding efforts.
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Today, GEM has one of the highest dollar vs impact ratios in the non-profit sector, and is committed to disrupting disaster relief with a complete 180-degree response. We solve complex problems efficiently with innovative solutions, through smart partnerships, globally.
