Sandals Foundation, in collaboration with the Flankers Primary and Junior High School, on Wednesday, March 31, distributed over forty well-stocked care packages to families of students of the learning institution, as part Covid-19 relief efforts and support to the education sector.

The outreach, which has a total value of $200,000, will see a second distribution of 40 care packages in the coming weeks as the school and the foundation continue to support the welfare needs of students and their families during this critical time.

“We are overjoyed that the Sandals Foundation agreed to partner with us in this very special venture as we try and navigate through this pandemic and improve the education opportunities of our students," said Principal Collette Barnes during the distribution of the packages.

The principal outlined that the school had seen the need to provide assistance in order to afford the students a chance to excel during the mixed modality method of teaching and as such issued a call to its various partners to get involved in what she termed “a collaboration for education’.

Ms. Barnes noted that challenging times demand bold actions and the school would continue to find creative way of helping the students and their families in times of need.

“As one of the organizations which work very closely with the primary school and the Flanker community at large, the Sandals Foundation did not hesitate when we saw the need,” said General Manager of Sandals Montego Bay, Carl Beviere, who was on hand to distribute the care packages on behalf of the Sandals Foundation.

Heidi Clarke, Executive Director at the Sandals Foundation said, “Learning is significantly compromised when students are missing a meal or are worried about where their next meal will be sourced. These care packages, we hope, will help alleviate some of that concern and allow students a stronger chance of staying focused.”

The Sandals Foundation recently donated a number of digital tablets to Grade 6 students of the Flankers Primary and Junior High to support the remote learning needs brought on by the pandemic.

Throughout its 12 years of operation, the foundation has been a primary sponsor of the Flanker Peace and Justice Centre in that community that operates home work programme on a daily basis. Team members from Sandals Resorts in the Montego Bay region have also been involved in a mentorship programme with students at the school.