Christmas got here a number of months early for lots of of scholars in Manchester this week as they returned to highschool with new sneakers, because of the annual ‘Kickers Shoe Drive.’ The diaspora initiative, organized by Give Again Jamaica (GBJ) based mostly in Roanoke, Virginia, the Buddies of Porus (FOP), and the Signature Society based mostly in New York, donated footwear to major and toddler faculties in central Jamaica.
Hopeton Brown, President of GBJ, Vassell ‘George’ Ogilvie, Vice President of FOP, and different members of the board travelled to Jamaica to make the presentation.
“The youngsters have been ecstatic to obtain the sneakers and wished to know if we shall be again subsequent 12 months,” Ogilvie knowledgeable, including that there are plans to broaden this system.
To this point, roughly 5,000 sneakers have been donated to college students because the program was formally launched at Crescent Major Faculty in September 2021.
Dr. Eve Richardson, CEO of GBJ, informed Caribbean Nationwide Weekly that the initiative was born out of her personal childhood expertise of not having correct sneakers to attend college.
“I keep in mind the way it felt when my mother and father couldn’t present sneakers,” Dr. Richardson shared. “My mission is to verify no little one feels insecure as a result of they don’t have sneakers,” she stated.
This 12 months, the “Kickers Shoe Drive” program focused seven faculties, together with Porus Major, St Jago Major, Harmons Major, Campbell’s Fortress Major, Broadleaf Major, Ramble Major, and Porus Excessive Faculty. Among the many people and organizations contributing to the annual “Kickers Shoe Drive” have been Steven F. Nesheiwat, Esq., Maher Fahouric, Esq., Michael O’Connor, Esq., Jamie Greenwald, Esq., and Sephron Mair, CEO & President of Signature Society.
“We’re at all times in search of companions and donors,” Ogilvie reiterated.
“For those who determine a major college in Jamaica and also you need to help the ‘Kickers Shoe Drive,’ please contact us at www.givebackjamaica.org.”
