Restaurants of Jamaica commits $18 million to recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa

Restaurants of Jamaica (ROJ), the owner and operator of the KFC and Pizza Hut franchises in Jamaica, has announced an $18 million national relief initiative to support recovery efforts following the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Melissa, which struck the island last week as a Category 5 storm.

The company’s first phase of support includes cash donations and meal assistance for communities, children’s homes, and schools hardest hit by the hurricane. The funds will go toward the Government of Jamaica’s official relief fund, managed by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), and Food for the Poor Jamaica, which has been distributing care packages and emergency supplies across the island.

In addition to national contributions, ROJ will provide direct assistance through its KFC Harvest Outreach Programme to several homes and shelters, including the Salvation Army Corps in St. James, Westmoreland, and Trelawny; Manning’s Boys Home and St. Matthew’s Mother’s Union in St. Elizabeth; and Hanbury Home for Children, Windsor Lodge Children’s Home, and Friends in Need in Manchester.

The initiative will also extend to primary schools previously supported after Hurricane Beryl in 2024 — many of which were again damaged by Melissa. Among them are Mayfield Primary and Infant School and Top Hill Primary School in St. Elizabeth, both of which sustained roof and classroom damage.

“ROJ is committed wholeheartedly to supporting our nation during this difficult time and helping those impacted to recover,” said Mark Myers, Managing Director of ROJ. “In addition to monetary assistance, we are providing food, in-kind donations, and recovery support to help families and institutions rebuild what has been lost. Jamaica is our home, and we are deeply committed to helping our people rise again.”

Myers noted that the company has also activated internal relief programs to assist ROJ employees affected by the storm and will continue to donate meals and essential items in the coming weeks.

Hurricane Melissa has been described as one of Jamaica’s most destructive weather events in recent history, leaving widespread flooding, property damage, and displacement in its wake. ROJ says this first phase of its recovery initiative marks the beginning of a sustained effort to support national rebuilding alongside relief agencies, community organizations, and schools across the island.