LUCEA, Hanover — The Lucea Infant School marked 10 years of giving back to communities in and around the town by selecting Noel Holmes Hospital children’s ward as this year’s beneficiary.

The Guidance Department’s Values and Attitudes Programme led a team of students and staff on a recent visit where about 15 care packages were handed out to young patients. In addition, lunch was served to 30 children and their parents while medical supplies were handed over to the hospital.

Over the past decade, the school’s outreach programme has given a helping hand to taxi drivers, garbage collectors at Western Parks and Market, cops at the town’s police station, and the indigent of Haughton Court Community. Their focus has been on groups that are usually overlooked.

The aim of the programme, which is an initiative of the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, is to make a difference through community service outreach while giving students an opportunity to build a foundation of altruism. Each year the school chooses one main charitable activity and includes students in the donation process.

“It is also an avenue of highlighting the values and attitudes programme of the school,” the educational institution’s guidance counsellor Kerriann Campbell-Matherson told the
Jamaica Observer. “A value is promoted each month; the value for December is ‘helpfulness’.””

Contributions from various overseas and local donors, including staff and parents of students attending Lucea Infant School, made it possible to provide gifts. Items included toys, blankets, snacks, crayons, colouring books, diapers, wipes, and other toiletries. The school’s canteen also contributed meals.

“We are ecstatic at the opportunity each year to positively impact our community in such a remarkable way,” Campbell-Matherson said. “It gives us a chance to practice what we preach to our children at the foundation level.””

The school’s Principal Monique Watson-Robinson was equally happy with the work they are doing.

“This project is a wonderful initiative. During this season of giving, a lot of times persons don’t understand that it is not about collecting but about giving: giving back to the persons who not only have supported us, but especially to the children,” she said. “The children are in the hospital today and some of them are not able to see their loved ones; they are not able to go to school to play with their friends. But when they see us coming in to give them all these goodies they will feel loved and appreciated during this season.””

Her sentiments were shared by Stephen Robinson who expressed gratitude for the gift received by his son.

“The presents are lovely,” he told the Observer. “Giving back to the kids is always a good thing.””

Principal Watson-Robinson commended the school’s guidance counsellor and her team for the initiative. “With persons like that it is a must that Lucea Infant School will definitely grow, especially for the year 2025,” said the administrator.”

Campbell-Matherson, in turn, thanked “all the various stakeholders including the parents and staff who contributed their time and efforts to this noteworthy initiative”.

“We look forward to your continued support and additional support from friends and well-wishers,” said the guidance counsellor.