Janet Richards Foundation brings relief to Chatham
Published:Wednesday | February 25, 2026 | 12:10 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Residents of Chatham and surrounding communities in St James, who are still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Melissa, were the recipients of much-needed supplies from the Janet Richards Foundation, which donated care packages, clothing, shoes, and toiletries to them last Saturday.
The items were handed out at the Bethtephil Baptist Church in the community, where more than 50 recipients were also treated to ice cream, cake, and other refreshments.
Petunia Williams-Kerr expressed gratitude for the kind gesture.
“We are so grateful for everything. It is an awesome day, and we thank you so much, and God bless you,” said Williams-Kerr.
“We got cakes, a lot of clothes for men, ladies, and kids, plus we got sanitisers, shoes, and slippers, and we are so grateful because many people needed it,” she added.
Reverend Rudolph Brooks, pastor of the Bethtephil Baptist Church, also thanked the charity for its philanthropic work.
“We are thankful for the Janet Richards Foundation, which came here today and gave packages to the communities around us. The community members have been very appreciative, and we express our profound gratitude,” said Brooks.
GRATITUDE
“In fact, words are inadequate to express our gratitude for the significant assistance they have given to us, and we pray that their ministry will continue to bloom and blossom and get more contributions as they work assiduously,” the pastor added.
The Janet Richards Foundation has been active in post-Hurricane Melissa relief efforts in St James since the passage of the storm on October 28 last year. The Category 5 storm devastated numerous communities across western Jamaica.
Chatham and adjoining areas such as Goodwill, Content, and Adelphi were among several affected areas in St James. The Bethtephil Baptist Church building suffered significant structural damage during the hurricane.
For Saturday’s initiative, the Janet Richards Foundation was supported by partners such as the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, National Supplies and Hardware, the Trumpet Call Ministries International, Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon, St James Custos Bishop Conrad Pitkin, and Jean and Willie Johnson, donors from Orlando, Florida.
Janet Richards, the founder of the entity, said that her group would soon be undertaking similar efforts in her home parish, Hanover, and neighbouring Westmoreland.
“This is the first of three of my major projects, ... and I will be going to Westmoreland and Hanover as well for similar work to be done. I will be going into the hills because we have done enough in the town of Montego Bay, and we have now decided we will be going out of the town,” she said. “I want to say thanks to my support team because I have so much support from my team members.”
The foundation was established in 2019 by Richards, a former banker.