ON a mission to bring joy to the hearts and feet of some young Jamaicans in communities hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa, Hummingbird Charities’ Sole2Sole programme has committed to providing 10,000 children with a pair of shoes and a toy each, this Christmas.

Patron of Hummingbird Charities, Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton, shared that the Sole2Sole programme has existed for years, providing shoes for the nation’s less fortunate children.

According to Tufton, this toy and shoe drive is no different from the charity’s usual work, but following an assessment of the loss suffered by children when the Category 5 storm clobbered the western section of Jamaica on October 28, a decision was made to provide youth worst affected with at least one positive experience after such a traumatic event.

“The kids who have lost everything — their possessions as part of the overall loss — they will be traumatised and have been traumatised by Hurricane Melissa, and we don’t think of them enough. But to the extent that we can provide for them some levels of comfort, especially going into the holiday season but also in the new school year, then I think there should be some special programmes around treating them,” Tufton told the Jamaica Observer.

He said the project is not only necessary to provide psychosocial aid by lifting children’s spirits, but [will] also help with keeping them active and their feet protected from the dangers that exist being outdoors barefooted.

“Giving a child footwear serves many purposes. There are lots of diseases associated with exposure to the flood waters — the feet are definitely vulnerable to things like that. It also helps them to move more frequently and smoothly, which is a wellness initiative, and it enhances their self-confidence — which is a good thing because you really need to encourage them to feel good about themselves so that they can learn and thrive within their environment. So, the Soul2Soul initiative is a very important one to Hummingbird [Charities] because it serves so many purposes,” added Tufton.

He said while the donation drive has many sponsors, the public will be integral to its success.

Tufton pointed out that contributions will be monitored with technology that enables donors to track their gifts and allows them to connect with beneficiaries.

“The intention is to map all the beneficiaries [by] using a technology platform that is being provided, and it can map each person who has received a shoe and from whom the shoe has originated. The digital platform will allow very specific mapping in terms of who gets and who gets from whom,” said Tufton.

Payless Jamaica is a major contributor to the programme and Country Manager Nekiesha Critchlow expressed elation about the company’s involvement.

Payless has pledged 1,500 shoes to the Sole2Sole programme, and Critchlow posited that while shoes may not be deemed a top priority in the post-Melissa period, the donation is an important step on the road to recovery.

“Hurricane Melissa has touched the lives of so many Jamaicans, and we knew we had to stand alongside the communities that have always supported us,” said Critchlow.

“Shoes may seem small, but for many families they are a symbol of hope, mobility, and a fresh start,” added Critchlow.

People who are interested in donating to the Sole2Sole programme can visit the official website at: thehummingbirdscharity.org, reach out via email at: info@hummingbirdcharities.com, or contact through WhatsApp at (876) 787-5343.

– Renae Osbourne