Golden Krust Invests in Jamaican Schools Following Hurricane Melissa

Six months after traveling to Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa to support devastated farmers and agricultural communities, Golden Krust Caribbean Restaurants has returned to the island, this time focusing its recovery efforts on schools and students through its ‘Feeding Futures’ initiative. Valued at over US$50,000, the initiative aims to strengthen access to nutrition, restore damaged food-preparation facilities, and create safer, more supportive spaces for students and staff across western Jamaica.

The Jamaican-founded restaurant chain, which operates over 100 locations across the United States, partnered with the National Education Trust (NET) to support the rebuilding and refurbishment of canteens at seven schools across six parishes impacted by the storm. On their recent visit, members of the Golden Krust leadership team, accompanied by NET representatives, traveled across the island, touring schools, meeting with principals and students to assess rehabilitation efforts already underway.

The schools benefiting from the initiative include Rusea’s High School in Hanover, Crawford Primary and Munro College in St. Elizabeth, Port Maria Infant School in St. Mary, Westwood High School in Trelawny, Providence Heights Infant School in St. James, and Sav la Mar Infant School in Westmoreland.

Recovery efforts

This visit marked the continuation of a commitment made by Golden Krust during its December 2025 relief mission to Jamaica, when the company partnered with the American Friends of Jamaica to provide US$20,000 in agricultural recovery support to ten farmers whose operations were severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa. At the time, farmers across St. Elizabeth, Clarendon, St. Catherine, St. Mary, and Manchester received seedlings, equipment, and essential farming supplies to help restore production following widespread crop loss and infrastructure damage.

For Golden Krust, returning to Jamaica to support schools was about continuing the work of rebuilding communities from the ground up. “When we first visited Jamaica after the hurricane, we saw the devastation with our own eyes,” said Steven Clarke, Vice President of Marketing at Golden Krust. “We met farmers struggling to restore their livelihoods, families trying to recover, and communities still dealing with the emotional and physical impact of the storm. During that visit, we made a promise that we would return, and it was important for us to follow through in a meaningful way.”

Clarke noted that while the company’s first intervention focused on helping to restore the agricultural backbone that helps preserve the authentic Jamaican flavours central to Golden Krust’s products, this latest initiative was focused on investing in the country’s future through education.

Investing in education

“The land and the people who cultivate it are deeply connected to our story as a brand, but so too are the schools and communities that shape Jamaica’s next generation,” Clarke said. “As a company built by Jamaicans, and whose leadership is also a product of a strong foundation built by Jamaican education, we understand how transformational education can be. Supporting the rebuilding of these canteens was about helping schools create spaces where students can feel safe, supported, and cared for as they learn and grow.”

He added that the initiative also reflects the longstanding values of Golden Krust’s founders, Mavis and Ephraim Hawthorne, who were known for championing education and community development in their hometown of Border, St. Mary. Their legacy continued through the Mavis and Ephraim Hawthorne Golden Krust Foundation, which has awarded more than 300 scholarships to students since 2005.

“Recovery is about more than rebuilding infrastructure; it is about restoring the support systems that help our children learn and thrive. The rehabilitation of these canteens will create safer, more welcoming spaces for students while strengthening the schools and communities they serve. This initiative is a powerful example of what can be achieved when an invested village comes together in support of education, and we are grateful to Golden Krust for helping to make a lasting difference in the lives of our students,” Latoya Harris-Ghartey shared, Executive Director, National Education Trust, partner in the ‘Feeding Futures’ initiative.

School administrations shared similar sentiments of gratitude for the company’s support. “The canteen is essential to our students’ wellbeing, particularly after Hurricane Melissa, when even now many families are still facing significant challenges. This donation will allow us to resume providing hot, nourishing meals for students at school, and to take home. We cannot express how grateful we are for this support,” Judene Ebanks-Bowes, Vice Principal at Crawford Infant & Primary School expressed.