Showing Up for Jamaica: TannerCares Community Impact
Providing Hurricane Relief in Jamaica
When Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica’s parishes, the impact wasn’t distant or abstract for Tanner Sales Executive Trishanna Barnhardt — it was personal. Trish grew up in Jamaica, and her family still lives in Kingston. She understood immediately how deeply communities were affected and how urgently support was needed.
Waiting wasn’t an option. Trish began organising a relief effort from the ground up. Once she shared the need internally, TannerCares stepped in, and colleagues across the organisation responded.
A Company-Wide Response
What started as one person’s effort quickly grew. Across Tanner, employees and friends began donating clothing, diapers, toiletries, canned goods, bedding, and financial support. Over the following days, the Charlotte facility filled with supplies as teams stopped by with bags and boxes of essentials.
In total:
Donations from employees and friends exceeded $4,275
TannerCares contributed an additional $5,000
1,100 lbs of goods were sorted, packed, and shipped
Remaining funds were used locally in Jamaica to purchase food and essential items
The logistics team prepared and palletised the shipment, ensuring everything reached the communities in need.
Two Trips, One Mission
Once the supplies were shipped, Trish led two trips across the western parishes and into the countryside — areas where the storm’s impact was most severe. She was joined by Gaby Bedoya on the first trip and Stefania Marquez on the second, both travelling to support the effort.
Across both trips, the team completed more than 200 volunteer hours, which included:
Visiting damaged homes and schools converted into temporary shelters
Speaking directly with residents to understand day-to-day needs
Distributing essential goods
Conducting needs assessments across multiple districts
Documenting stories, photos, and videos
Mapping safe distribution routes and identifying local partners
With the funds collected, the team purchased large quantities of basic food basket goods — enough to provide at least 500 families with food and essential supplies.
Members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force escorted the team throughout both trips, supporting their work within each community.
Seeing Beyond the Damage
While the physical destruction was significant, what stayed with the team most were the people. Each person had a story. Each one was navigating a new reality shaped by loss and uncertainty.
As Trish reflected:
“At some point, it stopped being about assessing damage and became more about understanding people; their emotions, their fears, their losses, but also their hope. What they needed most wasn’t technical or complicated. They needed dignity. They needed support. They needed someone to show up.”
One of the most humbling moments came in one of the final communities they visited. When asked what they needed, the answer was simple: water and clothing. Nothing more.
The Power of Showing Up
Trish’s leadership started this effort, but it was carried forward by people across Tanner who chose to contribute, support, and get involved.
Through TannerCares, employee-led efforts like this create meaningful impact in the communities connected to our people — supporting access where it’s needed most.
About Tanner Pharma Group
Tanner Pharma Group is a global pharmaceutical services company focused on improving access to medicines worldwide. Through TannerCares, our community initiative supports employee-led efforts to serve the communities where we live and work.
