ST Elizabeth resident Nigel Smith has praised for telecommunications firm, LIME, for its free back-to-school fair — Skool Aid — held recently in the deep rural community of Ginger Hill.

With the support of the Social Development Commission, LIME, in addition to its several giveaways, provided hundreds of children in the remote community with free medical and optical checks, grooming services and school supplies.

“We glad fi see dis and we hope we will see it back again next year,” said Smith, who attended the fair with his son. It was the first time such an event was being held in the district, he said.

Smith was thankful especially for the school bag which he said would save him some of the money needed to prepare for September’s official start of the new school year. According to Smith, the initiative saved him at least $3,000.

Smith’s son, Tadori, who ill be heading to Grade 1 at the Ginger Hill All-Age School, was examined by doctors and had his hair trimmed free of cost.

In July, LIME announced that it would be expanding the annual back-to-school programme to three rural parishes. In addition to Ginger Hill, a mini version of the LIME Skool Aid programmes have also been staged in Albion, St James and York Town, Clarendon.

During the launch, LIME CEO Garry Sinclair stated that since its inception five years ago, the company has invested some $250 million dollars in the LIME Skool Aid programme.

The highly anticipated main event is scheduled for Sunday, August 24 at JamWorld in Portmore, where LIME says it is preparing to host some 50,000 people.