Hurricane Melissa

Uniting Florida and Jamaica: How Local Drives Are Fueling Real Relief

When disaster strikes, good intentions aren’t enough. Coordination is what truly saves lives.
That’s why the Florida Lantern Project (FLP) launched Lanterns for Jamaica, a campaign designed to turn Florida’s hurricane-tested compassion into organized recovery for communities devastated by Hurricane Melissa.

Now, through local supply drives across Florida, families, schools, and businesses are coming together to collect essential items that will be shipped directly to Jamaica, thanks to a new partnership with Global Empowerment Mission (GEM).

Why This Program Works

Unlike typical donation drives that collect random items, FLP’s supply drives are built on verified needs lists developed alongside local Jamaican partners. In addition, every drive is registered through the Florida Lantern Project, ensuring transparency, coordination, and proper routing. GEM’s logistics team will handle the transport of all collected supplies, delivering them efficiently and safely to verified distribution sites across Jamaica.

“This collaboration with GEM gives our volunteers confidence that everything they collect — every box, every flashlight — will make it into the right hands,” said Samuel Johnson, Executive Director of FLP. “It turns grassroots generosity into organized impact.”

How to Get Involved

Starting or contributing to a drive is simple!

1. Register your drive at https://floridalanternproject.org/jamaica/host! We will provide your business with a supply kit, which includes approved item lists, flyers, and more! Promote your drive using the hashtag #LanternsForJamaica and tag @FloridaLanternProject. When your drive is over, FLP will coordinate pickup.

2. Find and donate to an existing drive at https://floridalanternproject.org/jamaica!

Lighting the Way Forward

Through supply drives and partnerships like GEM, FLP is building more than a relief pipeline. We are building relationships that last beyond the crisis.