Growing up in Jamaica, I never fully understood or appreciated the rich cultural heritage of my homeland until I migrated and gained a new perspective of what my country represented to the world.

It’s one thing to be in a country like Jamaica – living day-to-day like everyone else. However, it’s a whole different ballgame when your family migrates to another country in search of greener pastures, only to find out that in other parts of the world, your skin color or nationality of origin defines more about you than who you really are as a human being deep down on the inside.

My family migrated to America in 2017, not only because of economic reasons, but it was my mom’s desire to get me overseas from a very young age because I have cerebral palsy. Living in Jamaica with a disability posed its own challenges for my family but as always, it was never something that we couldn’t overcome. 

I was 17 when my family and I relocated to the states, and as happy as I was to actually be in America, I began to realize why people all over the world loved Jamaica so much. All of the history lessons I learned in both prep school and high school started making more sense to me as I learned more about and was exposed to living in a country where racism and prejudice did not hide its face.

Coming from a country like Jamaica, where the idea of one love and living in approximate harmony with each other without caring about what one looked like too much, made me understand why many people around the world admired who we were as a people. I realized why many saw Jamaica as a symbol of love and unity, even amid the difficulties we faced and still face today as a nation. 

This newfound appreciation and love for my country sparked a desire to see and contribute to its ongoing development. As the opportunity presented itself to give back to Jamaica even as a youth, I did not hesitate to jump on board. 

I was granted the opportunity to join and participate in BlessBackJamdown Missions, Inc which was founded in 2020. BBJD Missions was launched as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization during the COVID-19 pandemic, to assist underserved communities in Jamaica. This is done by providing food  and personal care items to the homeless population and those in need, in underserved communities. The organization’s mission was birthed out of the restless desire that founder, Sherlene Templeman, had to give back to her beloved homeland. Like me, Sherlene had emigrated from Jamaica as a teenager, and now lives in Manchester, CT. BlessBackJamdown Missions desires to serve Jamaica by bridging the gap between those in need of support and those who are able to provide such assistance. 

In January 2025, BBJD embarked on its second mission trip to Jamaica, partnering with Katie’s Kitchen – Gifted Hands in Portmore, St. Catherine, to host a heartfelt fifth annual New Year’s dinner for those in need. Together, we brought warmth and nourishment to the streets, community centers, and homeless shelters across Kingston, St. Catherine, and St. Thomas, providing more than 450 hot meals and care packages that brought hope and joy to the faces of the underserved. 

As one of the members on the BBJD Mission’s team with Jamaican roots and connections, it felt amazing to be able to be amongst fellow countrymen – giving back to the land of my birth in a grassroots way. It also felt wonderful to be able to share the love of Christ with others.

As a person with a disability, I know that there are many persons in Jamaica living with disabilities like myself who are a part of these underserved communities as well. My personal hope is to expand on this mission, focusing on supporting the disabled community in Jamaica, a vital part of the broader population in our beloved homeland. I also want to let people know that there’s nothing that they can’t overcome regardless of their background or upbringing. As long as we put God first, there’ll always be brighter days even in the midst of challenges. 

Looking ahead, the organization’s goal is to continue being a blessing to all 14 parishes in Jamaica. To achieve this, we hope to partner and collaborate with like-minded individuals and organizations, working together to make a difference, “one meal at a time.”

BlessBackJamdown Missions thrives off the generous donations of people like you who would like to make Jamaica and the world a better place. We can’t forget the land of our birth. 

Rene Lambert. is a member of the Connecticut Mirror’s Community Editorial Board.