NPSC, Food For The Poor help family rebuild after storm

For Charna-Kay McLauren of Arlington, St Elizabeth, the journey from heartbreak to hope has been defined by resilience, faith and determination.

After Hurricane Melissa destroyed the home she shared with her family, the mother of three, two biological children and one adopted, faced an uncertain future. Nearly everything they owned was lost, leaving them with about nine garbage bags of salvaged belongings.

McLauren still recalls the devastation left by the hurricane that made landfall on October 28 last year.

“As a parent, honestly, the first thing I thought about was my children and their well-being, then where we were going to stay,” she said.

The family’s ceiling collapsed, debris ripped through the house, windows shattered and strong winds carried away their mattresses.

With the home no longer safe to occupy, McLauren, like many others, made the difficult decision to leave.

“I managed to pack up my children’s clothes and the most important items before leaving. From what remained, I packed up our belongings in garbage bags and took them over to my relative’s home,” she said.

The family moved temporarily into her mother-in-law’s one-bedroom house, where space was scarce.

“My mother-in-law only had two beds. My partner and I made sure the children had the beds, and we stayed in the living room. We decided to give them the bedroom to provide some sort of stability as they returned to school.”

Though grateful for the support of relatives, the experience took an emotional toll on her.

Despite the uncertainty, McLauren remained determined to rebuild.

“The hardest part was trying to get a place of my own again. I kept pushing and trying. I didn’t want to keep depending on other people,” she said.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC) mobilised in affected communities to check on vulnerable parents and children. Through psychosocial support, referral services and partnerships with other agencies, its work eventually led the organisation to McLauren and her family.

Recognising their urgent need for stable housing, the NPSC sought support from partner organisations and worked with Food For The Poor to secure a long-term solution.

What followed surpassed McLauren’s expectations.

“They [Food for the Poor] came here on a Monday and by Sunday of that same week all the paperwork was done,” she recalled.

With support from the NPSC, the process advanced quickly. Applications began in January and, by June, the family’s new two-bedroom house was completed and ready for occupancy.

Throughout the process, McLauren said, she never lost faith.

“I never doubted it. I believed I would get help. I trusted the people I was speaking with, and I believed God would make a way,” she said.

The house has provided the family with comfort, security and renewed optimism. Equipped with two bedrooms, a bathroom, living room, kitchen and water-harvesting system, it has given them the stability they lacked for months.

“My kids and I have more space to move freely. I feel so grateful that they, too, are comfortable in their own space,” she said.

As McLauren and her family settle into their new home, she hopes her experience will encourage others facing similar hardships.

“It taught me to have faith, believe in myself, and never give up,” she said. “Having a home again has brought comfort, stability and hope for me and my children.”