Nearly 300 students from basic to tertiary institutions across the island had their back-to-school expenses, such as textbooks and/or tuition fees, covered or paid in part this year thanks to charitable donations from Food for the Poor.

Among the awardees, who totalled 299, was Chante Williams, a student at Wolmer’s Trust High School for Girls.

“This has helped me a lot to acquire most necessities for back-to-school, such as to purchase books,” she said.

“This is very important for a student. You need your books to analyse and really comprehend the subjects you are being taught. So, I would like to say thank you to Food for the Poor and its donors for creating this programme to aid children such as myself to succeed.”

As it did with hers, the recipients’ faces told of joy and hope as they collected their cheques from David Mair, executive director of the local arm of the NGO, and Craig Moss-Solomon, a director.

Samantha Barrett, who has two children who were awarded back-to-school grants, related her emotions when she was informed about the grant.

“The day when I got my children’s book lists, I waved it in the air and I said, ‘God, you are their heavenly father, so I am looking to you to provide for them’. In the afternoon, I got a call from Food for the Poor about the back-to-school programme and what I needed to provide,” Barrett reported.

“I started to jump up and down because I was wondering where I would get the money from. It is two children; I am self-employed and it’s very challenging, financially. The help from Food for the Poor eases the stress of back-to-school. It has been a blessing for me to be part of this programme overall, because I have benefitted from the organisation before in the area of health care. Thank God for Food for the Poor and donors for stepping in and assisting,” the mother added.

The presentations were made at Food for the Poor-Jamaica’s Ellerslie Pen, St Catherine office on Friday, August 25.

“None of this would have been possible without the consistent generosity of our donors, sourced through our head office, Food for the Poor Incorporated,” said Mair.

He urged the awardees to be good stewards of the gift.

“Study hard, stay focused and make us proud by maintaining an ‘A’ or ‘B’ average at all times,” he told them.

He also challenged their parents to encourage the children.

“Help them, where you can. Ask about assignments and become actively involved in their lives,” he advised.

Food for the Poor-Jamaica has been administering its back-to-school programme for more than 20 years and has seen what it describes as great academic achievement from awardees. The organisation has pledged to remain committed to the educational development of children across Jamaica.