Parishes affected by the devastation of Hurricane Melissa will get some assistance from the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), starting with the distribution of care packages today.
The federation has received special donations from world governing body FIFA to assist with damages caused by the passage of the Category 5 storm in October.
JFF President Michael Ricketts is also hoping to secure some assistance for the football clubs based in the affected sections of the island.
“We have been reaching out to FIFA and the FIFA Foundation. The FIFA representative who is managing the process of the care packaging will come in Tuesday evening. I will meet with her at 1 p.m.
“We are trying to get some support for the clubs that were hurt by Hurricane Melissa. So much has happened to the Premier League clubs, and we wanted to see if there is anything we could do, but we don’t know. I will discuss that with the person.
“However, we will be handing out care packages in the west on Thursday, Friday, and maybe next week,” he disclosed.
According to Ricketts, parishes such as St Elizabeth, Hanover, Trelawny, St James, and parts of Manchester and St Ann will be receiving items such as toiletries and food.
“We have a pile of stuff to give to western Jamaica. The packages are here. It’s essentially toiletries, food items and a whole lot of other stuff, and we start distribution on Thursday.
Ricketts pointed that as a man from humble beginnings, he knows the importance of fighting for those in need.
“I grew up as an ordinary person and know what suffering is about. I know when people need help, and I will fight for that.
“I understand the needs of poor people, and we are going to fight for them. So we are going to be on the road to do the distribution of the packages,” he added.
