Well over 100 children with disabilities flocked the Half-Way-Tree Transportation Centre on Saturday to collect school bags loaded with accessories as well as to get medical check-ups ahead of the start of the new school year.

The occasion was a back-to-school treat which was a collaborative effort between the Sanmerna and the Inspire to Empower a Change foundations.

The disabled boys and girls along with their parents left the transportation centre with smiles on their faces as they not only received bags, books, pencils and other items, but were treated with haircuts and hairdos, courtesy of the HEART/NSTA Trust College of Beauty Services.

Health check-ups were done by Dr Garth “Shaka Pow” McDonald, a senior medical officer of the Victoria Jubilee Hospital in Kingston and FirstCare Medical Plan.

Sponsors included Excelsior Biscuit Company, Worldnet Microfinance Limited, and JS Global Shipping.

Pleased with the outcome of the treat was Mark White, one of two directors of the Sanmerna Foundation, who told the Jamaica Observer that he was amazed at the number of new sponsors who came on board this year.

“It is always a pleasure to give back. We have people here to do hair and nails. The doctor is here from the Victoria Jubilee Hospital to give free check-up and the kids do appreciate it as well as the parents. The turnout is good. Inspire to Empower a Change did a great job in mobilising the kids,” said White.

He argued that it is always necessary to extend a hand to children in need and encouraged more corporate entities to come on board to make the treat even bigger the next time around.

“We have to extend the right hand to the children with disabilities. We have to care for them. It takes much more than a village to raise a child right now. We have to come together and do our best in helping them to get across the hump, so they can become good adults in life and become parents as well.

“Last year we didn’t have any barbers and hairdressers. This is new. We wanted to deliver a package. The children want to go out on the first day of the new school year looking good. Next year you might see them getting shoes and uniform as well,” added White.

He told the Observer that he is urging corporate Jamaica to come on board and assist in sponsoring some of the children and not let them fall by the wayside.

“They have exams and a lot of kids and families have challenges with school fees and the exams they have to pay for. Try and see what you can do and lead by example. The kids are the future and that’s the only way to go. We have to make the path for them,” White urged.

Stephanie Josephs, founder of Inspire to Empower a Change Foundation, was pleased the sponsors who showed interest and actually came out to ensure the treat was well executed.

“The sponsors are here because they see us as individuals from different backgrounds going around giving back to the less fortunate, so they came on board. The parents look forward for this and they welcome it. I am very pleased with the turnout today,” Josephs said.

It was all smiles for one young man after receiving his back-to-school haircut at the recently held back-to-school treat and health fair inside the Half-Way-Tree Transportation Centre in St Andrew. The event was put on by Sanmerna Foundation along with Inspire to Empower a Change Foundation.