NEGRIL, Westmoreland — Concerned that Negril was being placed on the back burner in the distribution of assistance following widespread hurricane damage to schools in the area, Odanika Taylor decided to act.

With several schools destroyed and children struggling to return to normal, Taylor forged a partnership with ULINE, a supply company in the USA, which resulted in the first of several shipments of supplies being distributed to a number of schools across western Jamaica last weekend.

“I didn’t grow up in a fancy home,” Taylor told the Jamaica Observer.

“I used to miss school a lot because we never had it. I know the struggle of growing up. I used to climb ackee trees and go crab bush and sell crab, ackee and guinep just so I could go to school in the morning. I worked my way to where I am now, so I want to give kids that opportunity because I missed out on a lot of schooling.”

A constant donor to her alma mater, Mount Airy Primary and Infant School, Taylor explained that as her family’s circumstances have improved, she feels a responsibility to help as many people as possible. She operates Lady Boss Glass Bottom Boat Tour and a beach bar in Negril, businesses that have allowed her to build strong relationships both locally and internationally.

It was a chance meeting with United States resident Christina Hutzetman that blossomed into a lasting friendship and ultimately helped propel the initiative to provide support to the needy in western Jamaica.

“I told my friend about the living conditions people were facing and the state of the schools,” Taylor said. “She said she would reach out to some companies she thought would be willing to donate.”

ULINE was the first company to respond; it did so just two days after receiving the proposal.

The initial shipment included paper plates, linens, plastic cups, tarpaulins, utensil kits, mattress pads, flashlights, trash cans, gauze pads, and milk jugs. These items were distributed to Mount Airy Primary and Infant School, Broughton Primary, Little Bay Primary and Infant School, Building Tiny Minds, and Marren West Academy.

In addition, students, their families and staff at each institution received care packages to take home, while the remaining supplies were distributed to residents in the Petersfield High School emergency shelter.

Taylor is now urging other Jamaicans, both at home and within the Diaspora, to get involved, stressing that education remains the key to national development. She believes contributions in the form of technology and educational learning aids could significantly reduce illiteracy levels across the island.

“This is definitely a long-term thing for us,” said Taylor whose philanthropic efforts began long before Hurricane Melissa made landfall on October 28 of last year. Through her family’s support, Taylor previously donated school bags, laptops and other educational supplies to students in need.

“We’ve always been focused on kids and donating to schools for educational purposes,” she explained. “The aim is to try to have the kids go to school for more than two days a week.”

Due to extensive damage to infrastructure, several schools are now operating with fewer classrooms than before, making it impossible to accommodate their full student populations. As a result, institutions such as Mount Airy Primary and Infant have implemented a shift system, with some students attending school only twice per week.

This disruption comes at a time when some students are still recovering from educational setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down schools in 2020 and Hurricane Beryl in 2024.

Taylor said the second shipment of donations will include building supplies and additional equipment aimed at improving school operations and creating safer, more comfortable learning environments for affected students.

Distribution of supplies to schools in Western Westmoreland on Saturday was spearheaded by Odanika Taylor alumna of Mt Airy Primary and Infant School. (Photo: Rosalee Wood Condell)

On behalf of all recipients, guidance counsellor of Mount Airy Primary and Infant School Leleith Murdock (second left) thanks philanthropist and past student Odanika Taylor (third left, front row) and her partners for their continued contribution to the school. (Rosalee Wood Condell)

Mount Airy Primary and Infant School alumna Odanika Taylor (right) hands a package to Meldis Foster-Smith who was collecting on behalf of vulnerable residents in her community of Shrewsbury, Petersfield. (Photo: Rosalee Wood Condell)