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OK I really want to help the schools but I'm not sure the best way of doing so....
Is it smarter to bring school supplies, or buy school supplies there? or Is it even smarter to do that buy a brick thing I heard about? or is there an even smarter or better solution?
A few years ago we brought alot of school supplies with us, and visiting the school was honestly the high light of our trip. The children and teachers were so appreciative. We now have to pay for luggage so bringing supplies from home will probably cost as much as buying them there, so I think we are going to pick up some items once there. If you do, try to visit yourself. We spent about an hour, we read to the kids and played outside with them.
aww that sounds soo touching I think Ill be spending sometime doing that...
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We have done it about every way possible.
Years ago we would bring in supplies in groups much like our list at home - crayons, pencils, colored pencils, rulers, pencil sharpeners and tablets and when we would see a mom with kids as we drove the hills in the morning we would stop and ask if they would like a school pack, it always seemed appreciated.
Then in 04 or 05 Coleen and myself were doing a drive about, I had in my mind I could drive up the back side of Dolphin Head, well we didn't make the top but as we came back down I noticed a school sign and thought we have a back seat full of supplies let's do a drop off. The teacher was estatic it was early in the fall term and she literaly did not have enough supplies for the kids.
Since then a little of everything everyway. The schoole needed play equipment to meet a standard so we brought in swings for their swingset one year. One year we got this ridiculous deal on back packs and brought in 40 some back packs with each person in our party doing a few per suitcase. Soccer balls are always a hit we buy them in Sav and one year the church ladies here had all of these puppets and stuffed animals that were a huge hit. We took in a DVD player and dvd's and I understand that they have movie night at the school upon occasion.
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This is not the first time this question has been asked on the board and I can tell you in advance that some will say we should support the Jamaican business owner and buy there and I can tell you that we often take collections that are offered from differant groups that have seen our pictures and make the journey to Sav. That said I can tell you also that when crayons go on sell here at staples for a dime a box I can multiply my giving and I really don't think the kids understand I did not support a local business to do it.
As to the bag fee, yes money weighs much less, but we have decided that part of our sky miles gets us a better seat and no bag fees which we donate to second bag of supplies
And by the way money is accepted at the school and my heart has to tell me it will benefit the kids.
I can tell you if your heart is not better after a school visit you did not do it right.
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Chet, No words can explain the respect I have for individuals such as yourself sir, I hold you in the highest of respects... I will definatly raise money to help as much as possible they are just children wanting to learn and I CANNOT deny them that its inhumane.