NATIONAL Supply Company and its foundation have become the latest entities to add muscle to the Sole 2 Sole drive.

Sole 2 Sole is an initiative of Hummingbird Charities Limited, which aims to provide children in need with access to properly fitted, comfortable, and durable footwear — enabling them to focus on their education, participate in extracurricular activities, and walk confidently into a future they deserve.

National Supply has decided to partner with Sole 2 Sole to hand over 120 pairs of shoes to students of Ginger Hill Basic School and Ginger Hill Primary School in St Elizabeth, a move that was a no-brainer according to its Director of Sales and Marketing Donovan Chen See.

He noted that last September he attended an event hosted by Hummingbird Charities at which it outlined its goals and objectives, including the flagship Sole 2 Sole programme.

According to Chen See, at that point he did not understand the real disparity between children with shoes and those without, until he saw a video posted on
Instagram in December of last year highlighting one of the programme’s handover events at Alligator Pond Infant and Primary school.

In that video a young student was seen showing the camera the tattered shoes he had been wearing to school for the past year — a situation the student described as “very sad”.

“When I listened to the video of the child, I thought ‘Wow!’ Immediately I called the principals of Ginger Hill Basic and Ginger Hill Primary School to see if students at those institutions were met with the same fate.

“Not surprised by the answers, the principals both said ‘Yes’, and this is where the partnership between National Supply and Hummingbird Charities Sole 2 Sole started,” said Chen See.

He pointed out that his family has roots of legacy in the community of Ginger Hill that date back to 1924, when his grandparents Charles and Anne Chen See settled in the area.

Donovan’s father Neville, the founder of National Supply, was born in the town square in 1930.

Despite relocating to Kingston in 1952, their connection with the community remains intact — demonstrated through their continuous support and charitable initiatives such as the adoption of Ginger Hill Health Centre, and Easter treats.

During the handover of the shoes Chen See said, “This is… an embodiment of our philosophy to pay it forward, a tribute to our family’s legacy.”

Rose Kinlocke, the principal of Ginger Hill Primary School, shared her gratitude with both National Supply and Sole 2 Sole for the act of kindness.

“This is a game changer for our students. The shoes represent more than just that — it is about giving our children the comfort and confidence they need to succeed,” she said.

Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton, who was in attendance at the handover as the patron of the charity, also shared in the excitement and gratitude.

He said that since launching the programme last year he has seen first-hand how access to shoes can change the whole demeanour of a child.

“When I walk into a school and assess the situation and then come back and give them new shoes, you instantly can see how this affects the children. It is something we don’t often think about but the reality is, footwear is one of the most important things we can give to a child to ensure that they have a well-rounded experience,” said Tufton.

“I would say this programme is about more than making happy feet, it’s about making happy children who can step out confidently into the world,” added Tufton.

According to Tufton, with 18 per cent of individuals living below the poverty line in Jamaica, many families have to decide between basic needs and providing for their children — a reality that forces many children to wear ill-fitting or worn out shoes, which has far-reaching consequences.

“Physical discomfort, caused by inadequate footwear, can be a significant distraction, hindering a child’s focus and inhibiting their learning experience,” noted Tufton.

Sole 2 Sole’s aim is to bridge that gap, and it has an ambitious goal of providing 5000 pairs of shoes by the end of 2024.