Sandals Resorts’ back-to-school drive brings support and hope to families

FOR thousands of Jamaican children, the start of the new school year will come with a little more excitement — and for their parents, a little less worry — thanks to Sandals Resorts’ annual Back-to-School Drive. Across Jamaica’s major tourism regions, Sandals Resorts have again extended its reach beyond the resort gates, providing backpacks, books and other school essentials to children from kindergarten through high school. Team members and their families were also supported through resort-based back-to-school treats and distributions. Across the Ocho Rios region, the back-to-school season combined education, family fun, wellness and community outreach. Sandals Dunn’s River hosted a two-day Family Fun Day and back-to-school drive for team members and their children, featuring games, entertainment, food and educational activities, while more than 500 team members received backpacks and school supplies for their children. The resort also joined Sandals Royal Plantation and the Steer Town Community Organisation for a family fun day in Steer Town, where more than 500 children received school bags and supplies. Sandals Royal Plantation sponsored lunch for children and elderly residents, while Sandals Dunn’s River provided complimentary back and neck massages for seniors. Meanwhile, Sandals Ochi Beach Resort partnered with Sandals Foundation and the North East Regional Health Authority (NERHA) to stage a Back-to-School Treat and Wellness Extravaganza at Ocho Rios Primary School, serving approximately 400 children with school supplies and access to health services. Parent Jasette Brown, who attended with her two daughters, welcomed the combination of educational and health support. “My two girls had their medical check-ups, one got the HPV vaccine, both had their teeth cleaned, plus school bags bursting with supplies,” Brown said. “It was a convenient, all-inclusive service that saved me thousands of dollars.”

Joelle Miller from the Island Insider Club at Sandals Ochi is delighted to have her general manager, Charles Blacher, join her in a picture with backpack full of school supplies.

More than 700 of the resort’s team members also received school bags and supplies for their children. In Montego Bay, Sandals and Beaches Resorts’ corporate team members and their families gathered at the Kent Avenue office for a Back to Brilliance treat, where children received backpacks, school supplies and vouchers for books, shoes and barber services. SRI Human Resources Manager Leshon Simpson said the initiative was designed to provide practical support while reminding team members that their families matter. “This was about more than giving out school supplies,” Simpson said. “We were intentional about including vouchers for school shoes, books and even the barbershop to help families with some of the real expenses of preparing children for school.” For some families, the support has been particularly meaningful as they balance everyday household expenses while continuing to recover from the lingering effects of Hurricane Melissa which hit Jamaica last October. Despite their resorts being closed for regular operations, teams from Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Caribbean Cay, in partnership with Sandals Foundation, also ensured that more than 300 children from communities including Williams Street (Gully), Canterbury, and Norwood received school supplies, while selected schools benefited from electronic devices and appliances. More than 1,000 team members from the two resorts also received backpacks and school supplies for their children. In western Jamaica, Sandals Negril and Beaches Negril catered to more than 1,000 children of team members through their annual back-to-school treat, which combined school supply distribution with rides, games, and family activities. Through Sandals Foundation, more than 1,500 pounds of school supplies were also distributed to communities across Hanover and Westmoreland, benefiting more than 1,000 students.

PTA President Latiesha Williams (left) and teacher Tereta Campbell-Williams of Glendevon SDA Basic School are all smiles after receiving a new printer from Sandals Montego Bay for their school ahead of the new school year.

Narda Wilson, principal of Galloway Early Childhood Institute in Whithorn, Westmoreland, welcomed the continued collaboration. “I appreciate the support we’ve had from Sandals and the Sandals Foundation over the years and how active they remain in our communities and our children’s welfare,” Wilson said. “I know our children will make good use of the supplies for the new term.” At Sandals South Coast, more than 700 team members received school supplies for their children, easing back-to-school expenses as they anticipate the resort’s November reopening. The three-day distribution offered flexible collection and timely support for families in East Westmoreland and St Elizabeth still recovering from Hurricane Melissa. “It means a lot to know the resort is thinking about our families. This support makes things a little easier as many of us continue to recover, and we truly appreciate it,” shared Susan Johnson, laundry supervisor. More than simply distributing school supplies, the annual initiative reflects Sandals’ wider commitment to connecting Jamaica’s tourism industry with the communities that help make the country a world-leading destination. Regional public relations manager in Montego Bay Rochelle Forbes-Reid said the annual drive demonstrates how the benefits of tourism can extend well beyond employment and visitor spending. “Tourism dollars have a ripple effect,” Forbes-Reid said. “When tourism does well, the communities around us feel that impact too. Whether through education, local collaborations, community programmes, or the volunteerism of our team members, our responsibility is to keep connecting those dots.” From South Coast and Negril to Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, the annual Back-to-School Drive continues to turn that philosophy into reality — easing the burden on parents, equipping children for the classroom and ensuring that the benefits of Jamaica’s tourism industry continue to reach beyond the resort gates.