This year, the Salvation Army Back-to-School Programme is supporting 100 parents and 150 students.
Divisional Commander Major Robert Pyle, speaking at Thursday’s press conference, said the organisation was once again supporting parents and children who are in need, as they prepare for the upcoming school term.
“[We are] all about touching lives, changing lives…we have always been at the forefront of assisting persons in need, particularly those who are most vulnerable in our communities. Need doesn’t always show up in terms of inadequate clothing or nutritious meals. It can also show up in a way that people are in need of school materials, school shoes, school uniforms and school books,” he said.
Pyle said having the proper supplies was critical for a child’s success in the classroom.
“For anyone to do a job properly, they must have the proper tools. We know that teachers and parents want the best for their students and for their children. No child should be left feeling inadequate because of a lack of proper school supplies,” he said.
He added, “Today, the Salvation Army is once again reaching out to 100 parents and 150 children, to provide essential school supplies along with school uniforms for them to learn, to study, to be innovative, without the added burden of not having the proper tools to study and to be in school.”
This year, the Salvation Army expanded its provision of back-to-school items by adding backpacks along with exercise books, pens, erasers, rulers, and other items.
Also present at the event was Operations Director at Abed’s and Co. Ltd, Alex Abed, whose company has partnered with the Salvation Army for the initiative. He pointed to the growing demand for assistance during the back-to-school period and issued a call for more support from the corporate sector.
“This is a small drop in the ocean for what the Salvation Army really needs. The need is only growing; every year we receive thousands of requests to Abeds alone with back-to-school. The need this year has increased by at least 20 per cent,” Abed revealed.
“So corporate Barbados, anybody out there who can help, these are one of the organisations, there are others out there, but please have a look and see if you can help the children because the last thing we want is children suffering on their way going back to school, being bullied for not having the right uniform, whatever it may be. They shouldn’t be the ones to suffer,” he stressed. (SB)
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