Adventists Continue to Ease Financial Burden for Back-to School
With just weeks before the start of the new school year, hundreds of parents are already finding it difficult to get their children ready for back-to-school. However, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Ann, recognizing the plight of many, has helped to ease the financial burden by hosting its fifth annual Health, Education, and Skills Expo on Wednesday, August 14, 2013. The event took place at the Ocho Rios Adventist Church and the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) lot opposite the Shell gas station in Ocho Rios.
Pastor Omri Davis, Publishig and Health Ministries Director for North Jamaica Conference talks to a customer about the book "Compleat Tween" being sold by the Book and Nutrition Centre at the at the Health, Education and Skills Expo. The event took place on August 14, 2013 at the UDC lot opposite the Shell gas station in Ocho Rios.
Pastor Omri Davis, Health Ministries Director for North Jamaica Conference and Pastor of the Ocho Rios Adventist Church said, “People are facing serious financial challenges and cannot find the money to buy school books, uniforms and other necessities and that is why as a church we are conducting this fair and expo to educate, empower and help to ease the financial burden.”
The Health, Education and Skills Expo attracted thousands of individuals from across St. Ann and its neighbouring parishes who benefitted from text book sale for as little as $10.00. They also offered free health checks, talks on wise financial management, saving towards education and a skills training segment.
Surprised by the offerings Kaydian Williams said, “Where on earth would you find text books selling for $10.00 or $100.00. I saved thousands of dollars by purchasing text books here and I also obtained free medical check for my son. This is indeed a good thing and I thank the church very much.”
The main Coordinator for the event, Mrs. Dotlyn Bailey, Education Sponsor for Ocho Rios Seventh-day Adventist Church said that the church really understands the financial situation, “We see the needs daily and because of this, we might have attracted over two thousand persons. One lady told me she was coming from as far as St. Mary to purchase school books and she got most of them. You could see the parents checking off their books on the book list as they made their purchases. In addition, hundreds of students benefitted from the free medical checks offered to them. This was indeed a crowd puller.”
Dr. Tamara Henry conducts a visual check on Britania Clarke, one of hundreds of students who benefitted from the free medical checks during Wednesdays Health, Education and Skills Expo held at the Ocho Rios Adventist Church and UDC lot in Ocho Rios on August 14. 2013.
Mrs. Bailey added, “My only regret is that we did not have enough doctors. Because of this great demand, next Wednesday, August 21, 2013, we hope to have the doctors returning to finish the process. Also, we will be selling more books. This time, Sangsters Book Shop will be here at the church.”
Hundreds students continue to wait in line to get their medical done for back-to-school in September. This was conducted during the fifth annual Health, Education and Skills Expo held at the Ocho Rios Adventist Church and the UDC lot on August 14, 2013.
Pastor Davis and Mrs. Bailey thanked the members of the church for volunteering their service. They also thanked Doctors Tamika and Tamara Henry from the St. Ann’s Bay Hospital; National Commercial Bank, Bank of Nova Scotia, HEART Trust, Cuna Mutual, Carlong Books, Kingston Book Shop, Book and Nutrition Centre, Bashco, University of the West Indies, University College of the Caribbean, Victoria Mutual Building Society, Moneague College and the First Regional Cooperative Credit Union, who came and made the event a success.
By Dyhann Buddoo-Fletcher
Adventist School Motivates Girls for Success
It was girls’ empowerment day at the St. Ann’s Bay High and Preparatory School in St. Ann, as the school’s administration sought on January 23, 2013 to motivate its young ladies on having a positive self-esteem and strong Christian values for success.
