Ministries Making a Difference

Ministries responding with Hurricane Melissa relief

Caribbean islands are still reeling after Hurricane Melissa rolled through last week, devastating Jamaica after striking as a Category 5 storm. Cuba and the Bahamas were also hit, with Haiti and the Dominican Republic suffering from severe flooding. As of Nov. 1, the death toll had risen to 60. With farming and fishing communities wrecked, recovery efforts will be long and grueling.

Even before the storm made landfall, ministries were gearing up to provide relief—mobilizing teams, loading trucks, communicating with partners who had boots on the ground, emailing urgent fundraising requests. Some are preparing for short-term urgent needs, while others are focusing on long-term rebuilding efforts.

Christians are often among the first to offer aid and assistance after a disaster, a tangible way to love their neighbors as commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ.

At MinistryWatch, we encourage donors to be wise in choosing organizations to partner with. A few things to look for—ministries with a track record of financial efficiency, who have boots on the ground, and who are transparent with their finances (file Form 990s, post audited financials).

This week, for Ministries Making a Difference, we’re looking at a few ministries providing relief after Hurricane Melissa. All of these ministries have high ratings in our MinistryWatch database and have an established record of providing disaster relief.

Water Mission was one of the first ministries on the scene, having deployed teams and equipment to Jamaica ahead of the storm to help with safe water, sanitation and hygiene needs. Water Mission, which has about 25 years experience responding to natural disasters, has 3 stars and an A transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a donor confidence score of 100. (email)

Video screenshot via MAP International

MAP International is partnering with Food for the Poor to send and distribute 20,000 Disaster Health Kits filled with hygiene items and first aid supplies to victims of Hurricane Melissa. MAP is also sending 100 Emergency Response Packs containing medications for people with chronic conditions and other urgent health needs—the 100 packs should help about 25,000 people. MAP International has 5 stars, an A transparency grade and a donor confidence score of 90 in the MinistryWatch database. Food for the Poor has 4 stars, a C transparency grade, and a donor confidence score of 56.

Video screenshot via MAP InternationalOperation Blessing has a team on the ground in Jamaica’s Montego Bay setting up a clean water system, expanding the church kitchen to set up a scalable feeding program, conducting medical relief operations, securing a warehouse space to manage aid, and mobilizing local volunteers. Operation Blessing has 4 stars and an A transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a donor confidence score of 90.

Photo via Mercy Chefs

Mercy Chefs has been serving hot chef-inspired meals to the hardest hit communities in Black River, Jamaica. On Sunday (Nov. 2), the team delivered those hot meals to the staff and patients at a local hospital, offering prayer, hugs and comfort. The ministry says it has two more teams en route. It also has partners in Cuba who are serving meals to families in their area. Mercy Chefs has 3 stars and a C transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a donor confidence score of 72 (a “Give With Confidence” designation).

EDITOR’S NOTE: MinistryWatch rates nonprofit ministries based on three criteria: financial efficiency, financial transparency, and donor confidence. To learn more, click on each related link for a detailed description.

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