STUDENTS and other residents of Old Harbour in St Catherine received school supplies, medical checks and care packages during an education and health fair staged recently by Old Harbour and Friends Association (OHFA).

Six students were presented with grants totalling $36,000, another six were gifted with laptop computers, while more than 350 care packages were distributed during the event held at Old Harbour Primary School.

Community members also benefited from free health services and counselling.

Laptop recipient Rickelmi Laing, who will be attending Glenmuir High School in September, said the device will assist him in his studies.

“I felt very good about it because it will help me educationally, and I am very thankful,” the former Old Harbour Primary student told JIS News.

Formed 30 years ago, OHFA is dedicated to providing financial and material aid to the Old Harbour community, with special emphasis on education and health care.

The group has organised health fairs in association with the Lions Club of Old Harbour, and medical missions during which dentists and optometrists from the United States have travelled to Jamaica to treat more than 4,000 people to date.

President of OHFA, Lavern Robinson, told JIS News that the association has adopted six schools in the area.

“We want to make the community better [by] assisting with not just cash awards to students but also [by] offer[ing] other support. We seek support for families and to help as many children as possible,” she said.

Members of OHFA have also worked with residents to refurbish and maintain two primary schools in the area.

In addition, the association has donated more than 10,000 books, computers, printers and photocopy machines to Old Harbour Public Library, Old Harbour High School, and Marlie Mount Primary and Infant School.

“It is a one of a kind organisation. It is full of love, full of giving back to the communities in the Old Harbour area and other communities,” said custos of St Catherine, Icylin M Golding, who is a member of the group.

She noted that doctors, who have been a part of the medical missions to the community, had received educational assistance from the OHFA and “they are now giving back”.