Help Families in Jamaica Recover & Rebuild

For more than two decades, we have partnered with Food For The Poor (FFTP) and families in our community to build homes, strengthen communities, and change lives in Jamaica. The impact is real, and the experience is unforgettable.

This year, Jamaica was struck by a severe hurricane. While our February 2026 trip will move forward, FFTP is still assessing where the greatest needs are. Our exact build site and lodging are TBD, but our mission remains the same: to serve those most in need and to stand with our friends in Jamaica as they rebuild.


What We’re Hearing from FFTP

FFTP’s early updates share that:

  • Many families have seen significant damage to homes and community infrastructure.

  • Immediate priorities include emergency shelter materials, clean water, food, and medical supplies.

  • As conditions stabilize, FFTP will prioritize rebuilding and repair projects in the hardest-hit communities and coordinate volunteer efforts accordingly.

We will align our 2026 work with FFTP’s on-the-ground guidance to ensure we’re meeting the most urgent needs.


Ways to Help—Starting Now

  • Immediate Relief & Recovery. Help families affected by the recent hurricane with emergency supplies, shelter materials, food, and clean water.
    Donate for Immediate Relief

  • Fuel the mission. Your gift enables us to make this hope a reality. To donate to the 2026 building trip, make checks payable to Food For The Poor and mail them to:
    Ruppert Grows
    23601 Laytonsville Road
    Laytonsville, MD 20882

  • Come with us. Join us Presidents Day Weekend (February 13–16, 2026) and experience the joy, humility, and purpose of serving together. If you’re interested—or even just curious—please email Lisa Horton to be added to the interest list (lhorton@ruppertcompanies.com). Space is limited.

  • Spread the word. Invite another family to consider the 2026 trip and share in this meaningful experience.


What You’ll Do on the Trip

  • Build or repair safe, sturdy homes alongside local families

  • Visit a school and/or orphanage, as conditions allow

  • Connect with a community we’ll continue to support long after the trip


Who Should Come

Parents, grandparents, and kids/teens (we recommend 13+). No construction experience is needed, just a willing heart and a team mindset.


Estimated Cost

$2,300 per person including airfare, three nights’ lodging, meals, and ground transportation (final pricing and logistics may adjust based on the confirmed site).


Why This Trip Matters

Together, we’ve helped build hundreds of homes and several schools across Jamaica, forging friendships and perspectives that last a lifetime. In line with FFTP’s focus on sustainable giving, we pair housing with ongoing relationships and support so families can thrive well after we head home.

Thank you for considering this life-giving tradition. Whether you join us, invite a friend, or make a gift, you’ll help build stronger families and a stronger future in Jamaica—especially now, when it’s needed most.

Watch this video to learn more about our annual building trip and what past participants have taken away from this experience.

Next
Next

Craig Ruppert Inducted into the 2025 Montgomery County Business Hall of Fame