Several high-ranking members of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) and lead sponsor Puma visited Hurricane Melissa-ravaged St Elizabeth on February 12 and presented five schools with cheques totalling $300,000 and care packages to student-athletes.

The host school on this occasion was Maggotty High, which suffered tremendous damage from the hurricane and is still not back to normalcy.

The funds were presented to principals and other teachers from Maggoty High, Brompton Primary, Black River Primary, Pondside Primary and Parottee Primary schools.

Vice-president of the JAAA Lincoln Eatmon noted the difference in this visit.

“The uniforms assistance is a significant shift to what we did before,” he said. “Many of the students are not able to attend school in their uniforms so we decided to provide assistance to the schools so that these athletes can attend school just like other kids.”

Treasurer of the JAAA Ludlow Watts went further, saying that the schools were particularly happy with the uniforms support, as other organisations did not consider that need. “A lot of students lost everything. We are providing uniforms for both boys and girls, depending on the numbers that the principals gave us. This will help to ease the burden that has been placed upon them,” he said. There were approximately 200 students and teachers on hand to share in the activities.

Principal of Parottee Primary Denesh Clarke welcomed the gesture.

“Most of our students are now wearing plain clothes to shool,” she said.

“We are still without electricity. This [money] will go a far way in assisting some of these students to get their khakis. This will say to them that you have experienced a setback with Hurricane Melissa, but this is an opportunity to look forward towards your dreams.” Head boy of Maggotty High and 400m representative Dominique Anderson was inspired by the day’s exercise. “It was truly inspirational. We would have been able to draw hope and inspiration from what was said today [by the speakers]. We had a setback with Melissa, but we are now regrouping and looking forward to the task ahead,” concluded Anderson, who has 12 CXC subjects to his credit.

His principal, Shawn Graham, was also quite pleased.

“It was inspiring to know that the JAAAs would have considered coming to the grass roots and to support not only our high school but the primary schools in the area.

The kindness extended would have been inspirational and I am happy to be a part of it.” He elaborated on the state of his school. “Sixteen classrooms were damaged so we are not back to normal as yet. However, immediately after the storm, our track coach, Mr Tyrone Miller, got the students back to work. Training has been going well and despite all that has happened, we are still optimistic.” Mr Graham said that the athletes are now physically and physiologically prepared and he expects them to do well at Champs as well as any international meets that they may attend. Maggoty high received the lions share. They received enough food supplies, etcetera, to support the athletes living in the school dormitories for at least two weeks.

The JAAA and Puma previously made similar visits to schools in Westmoreland and Hanover in January, where they presented care packages.