The popular Internet-based Vincentian group, VincyCares, has expressed great satisfaction with its recent fund-raising drive to provide school supplies for primary school children in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“VincyCares’ dream is to make sure that school supplies do not come between a child and his or her education, thus leveling the playing field for more equal opportunity for a proper education,” VincyCares president Franklyn “Supadex” Richards told Caribbean Life after the group staged its latest drive on Aug. 30 at Standard Shippers in Brooklyn.
The shipping company is owned by Vincentian native Gideaon “Fessy” Yorke.
Richards, who hails from Calder, said the purpose of the annual drive, named after VincyCares’ late board member Taswya Cambridge, is aimed at providing school supplies to every needy child in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“This year’s event was much bigger and better than previous years, which adds to the trend of a growing support from the Vincentian and non-Vincentian community in the Diaspora,” said Richards about the fifth annual event.
“This year also saw a wider variety of local dishes — blackfish, roast breadfruit, bakes, saltfish, tri tri cake, conch, peleau, crab and callaloo, bread and cassava pudding, corn soup, and bread nut,” he added about the mouth-watering delicacies.
Richards said most of the food was contributed by supporters, and well as well wishers and members of VincyCares.
Additionally, he said the sound system was supplied — free of charge — by Nolan Bulze, of the Brooklyn-based Vincentian band Solid, with DJs SupaEyes, Kemmy, Yung Hova, Bajan King, and Blondie, and announcer Atiba Williams.
“It was a festive mood that saw Vincentians from as far as California coming to Brooklyn to support a worthy cause,” said Richards, adding soca artistes Luta and Fireman were also on hand in giving the crowd “a mini performance leading up to the show that Saturday night” at Café Omar in Brooklyn.
He said VincyCares has successfully distributed school supplies to every primary school in St. Vincent and the Grenadines “and is continuing the trend to supply school supplies where they are needed.”
In addition to school supplies, he said VincyCares has awarded nine scholarships to student throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines “and will continue to provide scholarships as long as the general public continues to supper our cause.
“We have seen firsthand the impact the scholarships have on the students’ overall performance, which further strengthen our determination to help those we can to better their lives, hence their future,” Richards said.
“The best part of this whole experience is to see how hard the Board of Directors and members came together and worked tirelessly and unselfishly for the future of the children of St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” he added.
