Quote Originally Posted by 2nutz4travel View Post
We'd like to bring some school supplies next trip. What is most needed? Crayons, pencils, colouring books or just plain lined paper? I also have an old laptop (5 yrs or so) that works but won't hold a charge, so it needs to be kept plugged in. I don't use it anymore, would it be worth bringing for the shelter or a school?
this may ruffle some feathers but to be honest the best way to help is to find out what is needed most first.

for example, looking at the recent Sandy catastrophe, good intentioned people gave tons of stuff- but not all of it was needed. bales and bales and bales of well intentioned stuff went nowhere.

while individuals giving to schools in need in Jamaica is nowhere near that level, and things will most definitely be put to use whatever is donated, consider linking up with an established org so that you are directly meeting exact needs. when planned in advance, you will be assisting meeting needs the best way possible and that is, after all, what it is about.

many people may not even realize that lots of kids don't even go to school- they can't afford to, uniforms, shoes, food/taxi money. Many children their one meal a day comes from the one they get at school, and I have even seen some try and save some of that to bring home for their mom or sibling. Buying a couple of uniforms and some shoes might be a better choice than hitting the dollar store. Also, I would urge you to spend your money locally, especially these days with luggage restrictions. Kids grow up, they need jobs. Mom and pop shops can't compete with big box etc shops here, now that free trade has basically roosted the world's exploitation in China until the next depressed work force gets enslaved, no haberdashery in jamaica can compete either. all the goods come from china anyway but consider the impact of your spend and ramifications thereof. Would you prefer to support the billions and billions aggragated to the Walmart family or ensure a couple of jobs locally.

buying a few sacks of rice may be what is most needed. or some bedsheets for an orphanage.

a closet full of crayons and notebooks is a great stock for a school to have, but if there are kids who can't afford to reach school regularly it puts those supplies in a different light doesn't it.