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Canadian Friends of GEM

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Support Emergency Relief in Jamaica with Global Empowerment Mission

During and after disasters, those affected have no access to basic essential needs such as food, water, electricity, hygiene products, and other various supplies.

GEM’s Caribbean team, based in Kingston, Jamaica, is leading large-scale humanitarian operations across the island in response to Hurricane Melissa. Within the first week alone, over 1 million pounds of emergency aid supplies have been deployed nationwide—reaching the hardest-hit southwestern parishes through a coordinated logistics network.

With two major warehouses strategically located in Kingston, facilities are fully prepositioned to handle both immediate disaster relief and ongoing rebuilding initiatives. This infrastructure enables rapid mobilization of aid, efficient distribution, and continuity of support well beyond the initial emergency phase.

Through established partnerships with ODPEM (Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management), CDEMA (Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency), IOM (International Organization for Migration), and other key stakeholders, every response is coordinated, targeted, and impactful. These collaborations reinforce capacity to reach remote and underserved communities swiftly and effectively.

Goals

This fund aims to provide immediate assistance to regions affected by disasters by distributing the most amount of aid, to the most amount of affected people, in the least amount of time.

Activities

When a disaster strikes, prepositioned resources are mobilized and are at ground zero within 48 hours to help those affected.

There are two phases:

  • Immediate response & long-term assistance. Within the first phase, large-scale humanitarian aid and supplies are moved to those who are without resources. This aid varies based on the different disasters, but generally comes in the form of food, water, hygiene supplies, and temporary shelter.
  • As the response progresses into the next phase of long-term assistance, on the ground assistance will be provided with rebuilding supplies, home goods, cleaning and construction materials, and more. All of these efforts are made in collaboration with local partners, governments, and residents in order to best stabilize and reinvigorate the community.

Key Performance Indicators to be Reached (KPIs)

  • Number of people served
  • Value of aid distributed
  • Number of cities, towns, and/or villages served

Myriad Canada is working with Global Empowerment Mission on this project, a US nonprofit whose mission is to create sustainable communities through emergency relief support, post disaster needs assessments, stabilization, education and training. Their local GEM Caribbean team has been on the ground since Hurricane Beryl’s landfall in 2024, completing over 730 roof repairs for families whose homes were damaged. This work builds on GEM’s extensive regional experience, including our 2019 response to Hurricane Dorian in The Bahamas, where GEM BStrong conducted over 850 evacuations, repaired 120 homes, and delivered aid through dozens of planes and barges filled with life-saving supplies.

Myriad Canada’s role is to carry out charitable activities across the globe in accordance with its charitable purposes. We control and monitor the use of funds and the progress of charitable activities to ensure that donations made to Myriad Canada have the greatest impact in accordance with donors’ expressed wishes. As a member of the Myriad Alliance with offices in Canada, the US, Europe, Asia and Australia, Myriad Canada has a vast international network and extensive practical expertise.

How to support this project?

By credit card: At the top right of this page, indicate the amount you wish to donate, and make the donation online by credit card. You will receive a receipt for tax purposes by e-mail just a few minutes after making the donation. It is simple and quick!

By cheque:

  • Make your cheque out to Myriad Canada.
  • IMPORTANT NOTE: We receive a lot of cheques! You must please indicate “Project H617 – Canadian Friends of GEM” in the memo line of your cheque to ensure that it is allocated correctly.
  • Mail your cheque to: Myriad Canada, 1 Place Ville Marie, Suite 1670, Montreal, QC, H3B 2B6, Canada.

By Direct Deposit:

For Donation of Securities:

For Monthly Donations: 

  • We use CanadaHelps. Please find the link here.

If you need any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

All donations are eligible for a tax receipt in Canada.

The projects are managed with the greatest care and professionalism.