TORONTO — Sunwing went all in to help local communities in Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl by teaming up with GlobalMedic for a humanitarian aid packing party.

Nearly 40 employees across Sunwing Vacatinos Group and Sunwing Airlines converged at the Canadian charity’s Etobicoke warehouse to help wrap 990 filters and assemble 240 family emergency kits. These kits included essential items like basic hygiene items, a solar light and a ceramic water purification unit that provides clean drinking water for a family for up to 12 months. Additionally, 240 boxes were built for GlobalMedic to fill and ship in the future.

This is not the first time Sunwing and GlobalMedic have partnered to support communities in southern destinations. In 2018, the two organizations packed reading books, backpacks and other essential school materials to be transported to Barbuda, giving local school children access to the necessary supplies for a successful education.

“Our partnership with GlobalMedic, an incredible organization that has provided humanitarian aid in many countries, allows us to make a tangible difference in the lives of those affected by this crisis. Giving back to the communities we operate in is part of who we are, and we are proud to be able to lend our support in such a meaningful way,” said Khuram Malik, Sunwing Airlines Vice President of Services and Airport Handling. 

Jamie Cross, Senior Emergency Programs Manager at GlobalMedic, added: “GlobalMedic is thrilled to once again be partnering with Sunwing to get critical aid to families impacted by disaster. Volunteers are at the core of everything we do at GlobalMedic and the team that Sunwing mobilized to help pack Family Emergency Kits was amazing. Their efforts in packing will ensure more families have access to basic resources like clean drinking water, and their support in moving the kits from Toronto into hurricane-affected areas means we can get the right aid, to the right people, at the right time.

Hurricane Beryl passed by Jamaica in July 2024, closing down airports, knocking out power and ripping roofs off homes. It was the earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic.