Get Kids to School Programme

Good morning,

Part of St. Anthony's Kitchen is a programme called Get Kids To School (GKTS). The Negril area children will soon be going back to school, so we thought this would be a good time to post some information about this programme.


Introduction

Get Kids to School is a collaborative programme which has been operated by Mary, Gate of Heaven Roman Catholic Church, The Franciscan Friars and the Rotary Club of Negril since September 2011.Whilst most education in Jamaica is provided free, the cost of travel, school meals, uniforms, books etc. is prohibitive to many families. Get Kids to School supports 40 children through assisting with these expenses, with the aim of achieving regular school attendance.

The programme is totally dependent on contributions and got underway with funds provided by the Franciscan Friars in Cincinnati, USA and their benefactors. On-going funding comes from several organisations; primarily a grant from the Franciscan Friars of the Province of Christ the King, in Western Canada,(approximately 80% of the budget), the Rotary Club of Negril and the Franciscan Friars in Cincinnati, USA and their benefactors. The programme also benefits from many individual donations and sponsorships.

The Programme

The need for Get Kids to School arose as many children were present at St. Anthony’s Kitchen for lunch when they should have been in school. It was obvious they were not attending school regularly, if at all. Meetings were held with families in the community to explain the ideas for the programme i.e., achieving regular school attendance with, it was stressed, the cooperation and support of parents. To emphasise their involvement, parents formally acknowledge their responsibility for school attendance and contribute to school expenses. The programme assists with the costs of transportation and school lunches. Outside the main programme subsidised school uniforms, shoes, books and school supplies are provided where these cost are unaffordable to families. A hungry child does not learn so the Kitchen provides breakfast on school days for all the children.

The programme supports 40 children attending 8 different schools. The gross monthly cost of the programme is US$1,500. This cost does not include the expense associated with the Hiace bus that is used to transport some children to school or the cost of breakfast.

Alongside Get Kids to School a complementary programme called Get Registered was launched, its purpose being to assist parents and children to obtain “missing” basic documentation such as birth certificates and identity cards, without which the way is barred to state aid and children face barriers to their education. The funds required are modest and met by Rotary. Get Registered has moved beyond children and adults are assisted in obtaining birth certificates, identity cards, health cards, and TRN numbers.

Desired Outcomes

While we cannot claim 100% success our impact on the local community has been profound with many children regularly attending school, growing in literacy and self-respect. Parents are learning to embrace responsibility for the education of their children. Children are being given the tools they need to move ahead in life with hope for new possibilities and a better life. The programme is young, only two years old, and it has a bright future if we all continue to work together on behalf of the children.

You can help

Contributions can be sent to Mary Gate of Heaven Church or to the Franciscan Friars in Cincinnati - 100% of your contribution go to the Jamaican mission. NOTE: US citizens get a tax deduction.

Mail a check or credit card information to Franciscan Friars, Friar Works / Ministry & Mission, 1615 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-6492 - indicate your intention for the gift.

Credit Card - Online: www.franciscan.org - select the Donate Tab and in the comment box indicate your intention.

Credit Card - Phone: 1-513-721-4700, ext. 3218.

Thanks for the info, Fr. Jim............just wondering, if a donation is sent to Cincinnati, How long before St.Anthony's receives it?

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Originally Posted by MBJ

Thanks for the info, Fr. Jim............just wondering, if a donation is sent to Cincinnati, How long before St.Anthony's receives it?

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Hello MBJ :)

Good question! I will ask Fr. Jim to respond, as I'm not 100% sure but think St. Anthony's receives the donation right away.

Have a great day!
St. Anthony's Kitchen

Very interesting - an idea if donations can be routed through the Franciscan Friars of the Province of Christ the King for those of us in Canada?

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Originally Posted by 2nutz4travel

Very interesting - an idea if donations can be routed through the Franciscan Friars of the Province of Christ the King for those of us in Canada?

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When we volunteered for a day in June he said 100% goes to the church/kitchen. They have an account that the church can access using scotia bank. I believe Fr. Jim said the funds are available as soon as they are deposited.

Hey mons, let me clarify the money thing! Funds sent to Cincinnati (my Franciscan provincial headquarters) are tax deductible for US citizens. Legally, gifts sent here are not. I just got a very large gift from some benefactors, sent to Cincinnati, and they want the tax deduction. Makes sense! The FriarWorks office, cool name huh, accepts charitable gifts for the work of the friars. They take no administrative expense out and send 100% of your gift to us. Let them know that is your intention. The funds are wired directly into our account here. It is done monthly. The wire fee is the same regardless of the amount wired so wiring $100 to us at a cost of about $23 is not a good idea. If you send me a check (and I can accept almost any currency) I do not have use of the funds for 20 business days (about a month). Send the money to FriarWorks in Cincinnati. Send it here and it takes 3 weeks to get here--maybe 4--and I can't use the money for 20 business days. In fact, I'll get it quicker through Cincinnati! FriarWorks, 1615 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202.

The Canadian issue is interesting. Do you guys get tax breaks for charitable gifts? I don't know if the friars up there would accept gifts for us but I sure would be happy to ask. Their mission office gives us a nice grant each year for the Get Kids to School Programme. I can check if you want me to.

I'm hoping for a larger grant so we can sponsor more kids. If anyone out there wants to sponsor a particular child we can set that up too!

We got some great deals on kakis (uniforms) and shoes. We buy a bunch (taking any kind of discounts we can get) and then resell them to the parents at 1/2 price. It's a great deal and we expect parents to assume some responsibility for the education of their kids. This is one way then make an investment. This is our best outreach ministry--thanks you benefactors, Friars up in Canada, Friars in Cincinnati, Rotary Club Negril! --Fr. Jim

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Originally Posted by St. Anthony's Kitchen

Hey mons, let me clarify the money thing! Funds sent to Cincinnati (my Franciscan provincial headquarters) are tax deductible for US citizens. Legally, gifts sent here are not. I just got a very large gift from some benefactors, sent to Cincinnati, and they want the tax deduction. Makes sense! The FriarWorks office, cool name huh, accepts charitable gifts for the work of the friars. They take no administrative expense out and send 100% of your gift to us. Let them know that is your intention. The funds are wired directly into our account here. It is done monthly. The wire fee is the same regardless of the amount wired so wiring $100 to us at a cost of about $23 is not a good idea. If you send me a check (and I can accept almost any currency) I do not have use of the funds for 20 business days (about a month). Send the money to FriarWorks in Cincinnati. Send it here and it takes 3 weeks to get here--maybe 4--and I can't use the money for 20 business days. In fact, I'll get it quicker through Cincinnati! FriarWorks, 1615 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202.

The Canadian issue is interesting. Do you guys get tax breaks for charitable gifts? I don't know if the friars up there would accept gifts for us but I sure would be happy to ask. Their mission office gives us a nice grant each year for the Get Kids to School Programme. I can check if you want me to.

I'm hoping for a larger grant so we can sponsor more kids. If anyone out there wants to sponsor a particular child we can set that up too!

We got some great deals on kakis (uniforms) and shoes. We buy a bunch (taking any kind of discounts we can get) and then resell them to the parents at 1/2 price. It's a great deal and we expect parents to assume some responsibility for the education of their kids. This is one way then make an investment. This is our best outreach ministry--thanks you benefactors, Friars up in Canada, Friars in Cincinnati, Rotary Club Negril! --Fr. Jim

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Too cool. Since the belly flop a couple of months ago I have wondered what else we can do. Prior to this our focus was the animals of Jamaica, however the benefit of this program rises to the top.

Good to hear from you booger! Animals are good too. I'm a Franciscan Friar, a community of religious men in the Catholic Church. Our founder, St. Francis of Assisi is famous for his love of creatures and all creation. He is the patron saint of ecology. Even so, you can't beat educating the kids!

Father (or Brother?): are there some tangible items that we could easily bring with us that are difficult/ridiculously expensive to get in JA to bring you for the kiddos? Pencils? Folders? Beginning readers? My BFF and I are both teachers and while we don't make much $ ourselves, I know that we could round up a few things to bring for the kiddos who need help with school supplies. I know we can easily pick up items such as pencils, stickers, early learner readers, etc which would be easy and light for us to bring along. We'd love to help in any little way that we can! ;)

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Originally Posted by nicole.edith

Father (or Brother?): are there some tangible items that we could easily bring with us that are difficult/ridiculously expensive to get in JA to bring you for the kiddos? Pencils? Folders? Beginning readers? My BFF and I are both teachers and while we don't make much $ ourselves, I know that we could round up a few things to bring for the kiddos who need help with school supplies. I know we can easily pick up items such as pencils, stickers, early learner readers, etc which would be easy and light for us to bring along. We'd love to help in any little way that we can! ;)

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Good afternoon nicole.edith :)

Yes, yes and yes! We appreciate all 'tangible items' school supply related. ANY item you want to pack and donate would be wonderful :) If we ever get an abundance of one item, we simply put it away for the next term.

Blessings to you!
St. Anthony's Kitchen

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Originally Posted by St. Anthony's Kitchen

The Canadian issue is interesting. Do you guys get tax breaks for charitable gifts? I don't know if the friars up there would accept gifts for us but I sure would be happy to ask. Their mission office gives us a nice grant each year for the Get Kids to School Programme. I can check if you want me to.

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We do get a tax break for donations, but they have to be made to a Canadian registered charity to be eligible (there are exceptions, but none that would apply here). If you could check that would be great, I'm sure there are other Canadians on this board that would be interested...

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Originally Posted by 2nutz4travel

We do get a tax break for donations, but they have to be made to a Canadian registered charity to be eligible (there are exceptions, but none that would apply here). If you could check that would be great, I'm sure there are other Canadians on this board that would be interested...

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Thank you 2nutz4travel,

We will look into this and let everyone know.

Have a great day!
St. Anthony's Kitchen

Father Jim please stop by Treehouse for the beans I have for you

We can use just about anything for the kids in our Get Kids to School Programme at St. Anthony's Kitchen. We do get a lot of school supplies and can always use them. One thing that we need and folks don't think about is underwear and socks for kids--boys and girls ages 5 to 17. How about bringing some stuff like that. Shoes--we constantly need school shoes--maybe a pair or two. What ever you bring we will use.

Regarding donations by Canadians--I'll contact my Franciscan friends in Western Canada and see if they would accept gifts on our behalf. I know they are a registered charity (non-profit) in Canada! Will let you know--soon come!

Thanks everyone for your interest and support. We depend upon it! --Fr. Jim

Fr. Jim because you mentioned socks, is there a certain color they should be? Underwear is under your clothes so color/pattern don't matter.

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Originally Posted by Angel

Fr. Jim because you mentioned socks, is there a certain color they should be? Underwear is under your clothes so color/pattern don't matter.

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Morning greetings Angel,

Usually the children wear light brown (kaki) colored uniforms, so I'd say brown socks... sometimes black socks are accepted too.

Thank you!
St. Anthony's Kitchen