Do you have any used school supplies including books and uniforms that you are not going to sell or pass down? If so, don’t throw them away, because those old supplies are what’s being solicited in a first of its kind initiative. The Bak–2–Skool drive is the brain child of Mark Usher, his wife and children. It’s about extending a helping hand to students because so many families right now are finding it very difficult paying schools fees, tuition and other expenses.
Mark Usher,
“It is something that we do as a family, my two girls, myself, my wife normally when around the end of the year we put together whatever we have and we give family and friends who we know are in need. So I kind of took the idea and said you know what, maybe we could explore it a bit. I talked to a couple friends, the ones you see on the flyer, and they said it was a good idea and we started feeling out people and the feedback has been really good so far so I think we are on the right track. It is a good initiative and so that’s really where it came from.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
What is it you want people to donate?
Mark Usher,
“Anything that is used. Right now to go out and ask for brand new stuff it is a cost but when you look at it right, you have some uniforms, you have some used shoes, you have a school bag that your child no longer wants, a few people I spoke to I asked them what they would do with those used stuff and they said they would throw it away. So I said hear what is going on – throw it to me because we can go out and find people who would actually use the items. So it is really used school bags, footwear is always good, whether it is school shoes or a school tennis, once it is in good condition and books, eventhough in primary school books are free it never hurts to have, the more books the merrier, and uniforms, school uniforms, regardless of the school it don’t matter because there are needs in each and every school.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
And are these school supplies only for primary school or also secondary school?
Mark Usher,
“Secondary schools, sixth form, even UB. There is a need at all levels. Well at UB and sixth form there are no uniforms but if you have used books that you would like to donate, again footwear, you never know, school bags definitely. In the primary school and the high school then the uniforms will be applicable but if you just have the white shirts because a majority of the schools use just the white shirts and then you have specific schools like All Saints, I know they use the checkered green but it doesn’t matter and it is at all levels.”
If you have any used school uniforms, books, bags, shoes and pairs of tennis, you can give Mark a call at 610–0363, Careen at 670–3023, Williard at 610–0379 and Edward at 670–4334. They will be happy to pass by your home to pick up the supplies.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited and Prepared for the internet by Keith Swift
