In the wake of hurricane Melissa’s devastation in Jamaica, 142 dedicated employees have been stuck at Northern Orchard Co., Inc. in Peru, New York since Saturday 10/25/25. Their flights were cancelled after airports were shut down in anticipation of the storm. These men have endured grueling days watching news feeds of hurricane conditions and damage without contact from their families. As we receive sporadic reports, we are finding some communities are fortunately still upright, but many parishes have been reduced to rubble by rain, high wind, and floodwaters. People have lost roofs on their houses. Plumbing and generators have been washed away. Farm crops and food sources are all ruined. Animals have died due to exposure. Roads are impassable. Hospitals are destroyed.

Fortunately, most of our staff have made contact with their families and we are doing our best to remain patient for increased connectivity. What we do know is that there is a massive amount of rebuilding to do. All have lost some, some have lost all, none know the full extent of what they will return to after 9+ week away. We at Northern Orchard have been doing our best to fund the expenses of our employees while they remain in Peru, but we would love to surprise them with a little extra to take home. Many of our staff here have been residents of our town for over decades. They spend 9-, 4-, 2- months away from their families to try and provide, and are integral parts of not only our business operations, but our communities. The last thing these men need or deserve is more hardship. We have every faith that the resilient people of Jamaica will rebuild with greater strength than before, but they need (and deserve) a helping hand. These folks mean everything to us.

If you have considered donating to the relief effort, we hope this is an easy way to connect those funds with people directly in our own community. Any amount donated to our fund will be distributed to those most affected by the hurricane, and ideally, equally to everyone in the crew.

Thank you for taking the time to look into our situation whether you have the means to donate or not. Your messages of hope and support are actively being relayed and are met with much appreciation. Out of many, we are one people.

-The Mulbury Family and Northern Orchard Co., Inc.