THE Kiwanis Club of West St Andrew has provided a well-needed boost for the almost 400 students on the nutritional programme at Corporate Area-based Duhaney Park Primary School.

The club has donated a Future Energy Source Company Limited (FESCO) 120-gallon gas cylinder, with the first filling, to the school as part of its ongoing support of the institution.

According to Principal Colleen Reid Grant, the institution is grateful to the Kiwanis Club of West St Andrew for its latest donation.

“Duhaney Park Primary School has a long-standing partnership with the Kiwanis Club of West St Andrew. Our auditorium was built by them several years ago. We have a vibrant K-Kids Club as part of our co-curricular offering and just recently for Labour Day 2025 they fully sponsored and participated in the refurbishing of the Grade 1 furniture, as well as laboured with us as painters for our other projects,” Reid Grant said.

“Their continued support speaks volumes about their commitment to our children and to education in general. This donation plays a critical role in fuelling our ability, literally and figuratively, to meet our students’ daily needs,” added Reid Grant.

She said the gas cylinder will allow the school to continue preparing warm meals daily, ensuring that no child has to sit through a lesson hungry.

“Currently we serve breakfast and lunch to the students. Some of these students face challenges at home, and having access to a hot meal can make the difference between a distracted learner and one who is ready to learn. Our goal is simple: no child should miss out on learning due to hunger,” Reid Grant said.

The principal noted that at present Duhaney Park Primary serves just over 700 students, supported by a dedicated team of 62 staff members who, “Each day, they work together to create a learning environment that is inclusive, nurturing and focused on excellence”.

In the meantime, president of the Kiwanis Club of West St Andrew Claudine Heaven said the club will also be donating food packages to the school.

“We have an amazing legacy of achievement at Duhaney Park Primary. The bar has been set so high that we have become known for surpassing expectations. We are working with the vision of the school, and we intend to continue making their goals more achievable and easier,” Heaven said.

She pointed out that the Kiwanis Club of West St Andrew is actively involved in awarding and recognising individuals and organisations for their contributions to the community and their commitment to service.

The club is known for its impactful community service initiatives, including donations to breakfast programmes and celebrations for children’s events.

It has been received awards at the Kiwanis ECC District Convention, and is known for its fund-raising efforts to support local schools and community initiatives.

The club is now actively raising funds to construct additional classrooms and a kitchen at Laura’s Basic School, which is also in Duhaney Park.