Kilmarnock Families Rebuild with help from Emprezz Golding and N.C.B. Foundation’s Grant a Wish
22 Jan 2026
Kingston, Jamaica – January 22, 2026: A deep personal connection to the Kilmarnock community in rural St Elizabeth has led N.C.B. Foundation director Emprezz Golding to spearhead a rebuilding effort following Hurricane Melissa.
Golding, whose family roots run deep in the agricultural community, has been working alongside residents since the aftermath of the storm to help families begin essential repairs to their homes.
“My mother is from Kilmarnock, and my grandmother, known as Aunt Pet, is buried there,” Golding shared. “She was a community leader, and I still have close family living in the area. I spent a lot of time there as a child. It’s a place that matters to me.”
In response to residents’ requests, Golding committed to regular community visits and took on a role as one of its key relief and rebuild mobilisers. Through walk-through assessments and direct conversations with residents, families most in need of immediate support were identified.
By pooling their individual Grant a Wish allocations, N.C.B. Foundation directors Emprezz Golding, Kenia Mattis and David Wilson contributed $750,000 in building materials, which were distributed to ten households to support basic roof and structural repairs.
“The aim was to help families get started, even if it meant making just one room safe and secure,” Golding explained. “Residents helped identify neighbours most in need of materials to begin rebuilding and regain a sense of normalcy.”
The materials support built on relief efforts Golding and her team began in October 2025, shortly after the hurricane. “We were among the first to reach Kilmarnock after the storm and saw the extent of the damage firsthand. At that time, no government or international aid had reached the community,” she said.
With support from local and Diaspora-based donors, additional assistance included care packages, generators, seedlings, chickens and back-to-school supplies. Temporary repairs were also made to the community school, allowing it to reopen earlier than expected.
“We addressed urgent needs such as roofing with heavy-duty tarpaulin, water tanks and basic school supplies so children could return to some level of routine,” Golding added.
Kilmarnock resident Jean Powell expressed appreciation for the assistance her family received. “During the hurricane, my family and I lost our entire roof and had to cover the house with tarpaulin,” she shared. When the sun is out, it’s hot. When it cools down, it’s cold. When it rains, sometimes it leaks. So far, we have received food, zinc, nails and boards. It helped us rebuild part of the roof so we can be safer.”
While the materials have helped families take important first steps toward recovery, ongoing needs remain. “We will continue supporting efforts that help farmers and small business owners get back on their feet,” Golding said, noting that the 200 families who live in Kilmarnock play an important role in the agricultural sector.
Kilmarnock is a rural community located along the border of north-western St Elizabeth and eastern Westmoreland.
Daylight, a blind music producer and Kilmarnock resident share a light moment with N.C.B. Foundation directors, Emprezz Golding and Kenia Mattis.
Emprezz Golding presents a cheque for J$750,000 to Dunn’s Hardware and Electrical where the building materials were purchased for the residents of Kilmarnock.
Emprezz and the team from Dunn’s Electrical in Kingston load sheets of zinc onto the back of the truck that will transport them to Kilmarnock in St Elizabeth.
