Building on the success of its long-standing commitment to educational support, JWN Foundation (JWNF) says it has distributed 400 back-to-school care packages to students across the communities served by J Wray & Nephew Limited.

The effort, conducted in partnership with Community Development Committees (CDCs) in the company’s operating communities, targeted support to families and students affected by the devastation of Hurricane Melissa last October, helping to ease the burden of preparing for the 2026 academic year.

The foundation explained that the initiative forms part of its education pillar and continues its mission of transforming lives and communities for a better Jamaica.

“This year’s programme was redesigned to provide greater value to each recipient, with the foundation increasing the range of supplies included in every package. The increase reflects feedback from previous years and the foundation’s recognition of the growing financial pressures that many families face during the back-to-school period, particularly those recovering from the hurricane’s impact,” JWN Foundation said in a news release.

“The programme also leveraged the involvement of current JWN Foundation scholarship recipients, whose participation supports the volunteer and community service component of the scholarship programme,” the foundation added.

“By working alongside CDCs and local charitable organisations, scholars contributed to efforts that strengthen community resilience and enhance ongoing voluntary outreach initiatives which is a part of their requirement to being scholarship recipients.”

The foundation explained that the annual back-to-school drive builds on its 2025 programme, which benefited hundreds of students through the distribution of backpacks and essential learning supplies.

It said the continued investment underscores JWNF’s belief that access to basic educational resources is a critical first step in helping young people achieve their academic potential while supporting the recovery and development of the communities it serves.

“Education remains one of the most effective tools for transforming lives and strengthening communities. While a backpack or notebook may appear simple, these resources can remove barriers to learning and provide students with the confidence to begin the school year prepared and ready to succeed, especially after a tough ordeal such as Hurricane Melissa,” the release quotes JWN Foundation Chairman Jean-Philippe Beyer.

JWN Foundation’s top female volunteer Kizzy Lamey (left) with the foundation’s Project Co-ordinator Samantha Blake during the packing activity which is a staple on the foundation’s volunteer activity schedule.

“This repeat programme reflects our commitment to continually improving the support we provide to the communities we serve and ensuring our investments create meaningful, lasting impact,” he added.

Beyer noted that the back-to-school programme complements the foundation’s broader educational initiatives, including its scholarship programme, career development workshops and school-based interventions, creating a continuum of support for young people from primary school through tertiary education.

Since 2016, the foundation has invested heavily in educational advancement, providing thousands of scholarships to students from communities surrounding its operations in Kingston, Clarendon, and St Elizabeth.

JWN Foundation Director Marsha Haughton said the initiative reinforces the foundation’s holistic approach to community development.

“Our work does not begin and end with back-to-school gifts or scholarships. We understand that educational success starts long before students reach tertiary institutions. By helping students enter the classroom with the supplies they need, we are supporting their educational journey from day one. Whether through our back-to-school programme, Read Across Jamaica Day activities, scholarship awards, or our ongoing support for schools, we are creating opportunities for students to thrive and realise their full potential,” Haughton said.

She added that the programme also reflects the interconnected nature of the foundation’s three pillars of education, social inclusion, and cultural expressions, all of which are geared toward creating stronger, more resilient communities.

The foundation reported that throughout 2026 it has continued to invest in initiatives that support youth and community development. These have included the expanded ‘End Period Poverty’ programme, which distributed 1,795 menstrual kits and installed in-school dispensers across 17 schools, as well as volunteer-driven activities for Read Across Jamaica Day in 14 focus schools. Together, these programmes demonstrate the foundation’s commitment to addressing both educational and social barriers faced by students and families.

The back-to-school initiative was supported by volunteers who assisted with the preparation and distribution of the packages, continuing a tradition of service that has become a hallmark of the foundation’s community engagement efforts. Previous editions of the programme mobilised volunteers to package and distribute supplies to students, children’s homes, community partners, and charitable organisations throughout the foundation’s focus communities.

Established in 2012, JWN Foundation is J Wray & Nephew Limited’s vehicle for giving back to society. It focuses on the communities surrounding the company’s operations at Spanish Town Road in Kingston, New Yarmouth in Clarendon, and Appleton Estate in St Elizabeth.