Defending all-island football and athletics champion Kingston College (KC) have donated relief supplies to St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) while assisting in the cleaning-up process following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.

The western parishes of Jamaica faced the brunt of the rare Category Five storm and STETHS was not spared as sections of the school were destroyed on October 28.

A group of student athletes from KC, comprising members of the Manning Cup and Track teams headed by football coach Vassel Reynolds and athletics coach Richard Smith, visited the St Elizabeth-based school on November 7.

Reynolds, who led KC to the 2024 Manning Cup and All-Island Olivier Shield titles, told the Jamaica Observer that they had to show the other side of the school.

“We need to show the other side of mankind — brotherhood, thoughtfulness, selflessness — to the youngsters and so as a school to come together, through the football programmes initiative, we came together as a school, not just the footballers but a group of students in general,” said Reynolds.

“It’s better to lend our kind hands in helping them to put the pieces together. We think that moral support in these times very important and not just to offer items but just to give them our presence, our direct support in terms of being on the ground with them and physically assisting them in putting the pieces together,” he noted.

Efforts to get a comment from STETHS Principal Keith Wellington proved futile, but the school posted on Facebook.

“The STETHS community extends heartfelt thanks to Kingston College for joining us in our post-Hurricane Melissa Sports Complex clean-up and for their generous donation of food items. Your support and teamwork mean the world to us.”

“We also want to express our deepest appreciation to our students, staff, parents, alumni, and community members who came together to help clean and begin the restoration of our sports complex. Your dedication and hard work truly reflect the STETHS spirit of resilience and unity.

“Together, we’re rebuilding stronger than before,” it concluded.