Midwest Mission Sends Relief to Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa

October 31, 2025 Newsletter

This week, a powerful Category 5 hurricane roared through the Caribbean, leaving destruction, pain, and sorrow in its path. But, because of YOU, Midwest Mission is already responding with disaster relief that will bring HOPE!

Hurricane Melissa hit the island of Jamaica on Tuesday, October 28. This was the strongest storm to ever hit the island. We held our breath as we waited to see the toll it would take. 

Disaster relief supplies were already prepositioned in Jamaica through our partner Food For The Poor. Our Student Kits (and other supplies from partnering organizations) will be distributed over the next couple of days.

But, even before the storm hit, it was clear — this hurricane is bad, and Jamaica will need our help. Food For The Poor is on the ground in Jamaica, and they reached out to us with their list of needs. 

Immediately, they asked for Bed Packs, mattresses, tarps, Student Kits, diapers, and more. Brad Walton, Director of Operations, jumped into action, pulling items from the shelves, calling local partners to see if they could donate, and working to schedule a truck.

Before long, a truck was scheduled to come Friday, October 31. In the meantime, Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach donated over 3,000 adult and children’s diapers, Lamar Advertising donated more vinyl advertisements to use as tarps, and YOU responded overwhelmingly to our request for monetary and physical donations. Within two hours of the original email and social media post, Bed Packs began being dropped off at our location! WOW!

We were ready to respond with this first shipment.

The truck rolled in, and the Operations Team carefully packed the truck full of necessary supplies that will soon meet the needs of those hurting in Jamaica. 

This included:

• 2,240 Student Kits (some that were made just TWO DAYS AGO!)

• 112 Bed Packs

• 112 Mattresses — donated by Illinois State University

• Disposable diapers — donated by Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach

• 118 Tarps — donated by Lamar Advertising

• 264 Buckets with lids

• 10,400 Sanitary pads

The value of this first shipment was $89,914.00 (making our monthly total value shipped out just short of $1 million!).

This is only the beginning — Jamaica, and other surrounding countries, will continue to need help and prayer. 

Food For The Poor has already reached out about more needs. We foresee at least two more containers being sent in the near future. 

When disasters happen, we get an ache to jump into action in the midst of the crisis — and Midwest Mission provides a way for you to help.

So, what can you do?

There are three primary ways you can help:

1. Pray! Those who have lost homes, businesses, and loved ones need our prayers of comfort and peace. Pray that supplies would quickly reach those who need them most.

2. Donate! Your monetary donations allow us to quickly respond to the changing needs. We can buy items in bulk and get them to Midwest Mission to send out. You can make a monetary donation here. 

3. Give! You can collect and donate needed supplies that will make a big impact in the lives of those affected by disaster. Specifically, we need:

   1. Bed Packs (new pillows, pillowcases, and twin sheet sets)

   2. Home Care Kits (new liquid household cleaner - 56-80 oz. total - (no spray bottles, dish soap - 42-64 oz., liquid laundry detergent - 100-150 oz. total, 1 scrub brush - with or without handle, 1 - 5 gallon round bucket with resealable lid)

   3. Wheelchairs and canes

You can shop our Hurricane Relief Amazon list here.

You can learn more about Midwest Mission’s response at midwestmission.org/hurricane-relief.

No matter how you help, you are sending hope and empowerment to the people of Jamaica — thank you!

25 Years in the Making: The History of How Midwest Mission Started

It all began with the Great Flood of 1993. Persistent rainfall throughout the Midwest during the spring and summer of 1993 caused the Mississippi and Missouri rivers to flood, resulting in extensive damage and loss. 

United Methodist Churches that were close to the affected areas were called to respond, but there was no central disaster response facility to organize any type of response. Jack Travelstead, a district superintendent in the United Methodist Church, recognized this need and decided to do something about it.

Jack had always had a heart for missions—both internationally and here at home. Before Midwest Mission, he had traveled on several mission trips to Haiti, where he saw firsthand how simple supplies could restore dignity and hope to people facing hardship. Those experiences shaped his vision for a ministry that would bridge compassion with organization—a place where the Church could respond swiftly when disaster struck, not just overseas but across the United States.

Inspired by UMCOR Sager-Brown’s operations in Louisiana, Jack dreamed of creating a similar center in Illinois—a hub where volunteers could prepare supplies and send them wherever they were needed most. In 1999, at the IGRC Annual Conference, he received approval for his idea and was granted $100,000 from IGRC and $50,000 from UMCOR to establish what would become Midwest Mission. This would allow him to proceed with forming a unique non-profit, separate from UMCOR, to respond to disasters, so long as there was no indebtedness.

Over 25 years later, Midwest Mission is still here—sending relief to those in need and making an intangible difference in their lives through hope and empowerment!