VertexOne Cares: Jamaica Relief Initiative

As previously reported, Hurricane Melissa impacted the island nations of Jamaica, Cuba, and the Bahamas in late October 2025. When the storm made landfall in southern Jamaica on October 28th with sustained winds of one hundred eighty five miles per hour, it became the first Category Five hurricane to strike Jamaica in the country’s recorded history.

The resulting damage across Jamaica has been devastating, displacing families, disrupting livelihoods, and leading to widespread job loss. Despite these challenges, the resilience and strength of the affected communities remain evident. In alignment with VertexOne’s ongoing commitment to supporting communities during times of crisis, the company began exploring ways to provide meaningful and direct relief to those impacted.

Given her Jamaican heritage and longstanding personal connections to the island, Tamara Gross was engaged in discussions with Human Resources regarding how VertexOne might best contribute to relief efforts. We thoughtfully considered effective approaches, priority relief items, and ways to ensure that assistance would be delivered directly to individuals and communities with the greatest need.

Following the storm, extensive media coverage highlighted the global response, with foundations, nonprofit organizations, and private donors providing aid through medical teams, electrical restoration crews, food supplies, and housing materials. It has become clear that while the immediate relief was critical, the full recovery and rebuilding process will take many months, and in some cases, years.

Several parishes sustained particularly severe damage. St. Elizabeth Parish, often referred to as Jamaica’s “breadbasket” and previously responsible for a significant portion of the nation’s domestic food production, was the initial point of landfall and experienced widespread agricultural devastation. Westmoreland and St. James parishes, home to major tourism destinations such as Negril’s Seven Mile Beach and Montego Bay, also suffered extensive damage, resulting in temporary resort closures and significant layoffs.

In December, during a previously scheduled holiday visit, Tamara spent time assembling and distributing care packages consisting of hygiene items and food with the help of friends in Houston who donated generously. These packages were delivered directly to individuals, families, and hospitals in St. Elizabeth and neighboring parishes, including Manchester and Clarendon. Witnessing the scope of the need firsthand prompted further discussions with Human Resources about how VertexOne could expand its involvement in a meaningful way.

As a result, VertexOne, in partnership with Human Resources, has established a relief drive to support those in need in Jamaica. Employees who wish to participate are invited to donate towards the procurement of much needed hygiene items, and VertexOne will match employee contributions up to a total of $5,000.00. Human Resources will oversee the procurement of items identified on the essentials list, and Tamara will personally facilitate the delivery of these supplies to Jamaica at the end of March, ensuring that your support will go where it’s needed. The plan includes transporting three suitcases packed with relief items. The plan includes transporting three suitcases packed with relief items. Any amounts donated above the need, will roll over to our Q2 charity drive.

Donations will be accepted through February 28th. VertexOne sincerely thanks all employees for their generosity and compassion.