Community group helps kids get ready for school
(CNS Local Life): The Prospect Red Bay Community Group (PRB), which has taken on area clean-ups, been certified as a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and subsequently handed out home alarms to residents, has set its sights on collecting school supplies for neighbourhood kids ahead of the new academic year.
Once the items are collected they will be sorted and shared between the Prospect and Red Bay primary schools, for teachers to distribute to those children who need the assistance.
“We are hoping to collect enough to help any child/parent that might need that little extra to get a good start in the new school year,” Kara Coe, PRB executive member, told CNS. “We know times are hard for everyone at the moment and not getting any easier so we as a community need to stick together and uplift one another.”
Previously, the group took part in other school initiatives such as revitalising the Red Bay Primary School library, but this is the first back-to-school supply drive, part of their community activities for this year. The plan is to make this effort an annual event.
“We as a community group have started to bring about a shift to the old ‘Caymanian’ way of things by having these little but positive activities help to bring our community together,” Coe explained. “We are one of the larger communities made up of many dynamics that include owners, renters, workers, and the occasional passerby. We all know each other and look out for each other.”
This cohesiveness has translated into a neighbourhood watch and other forms of assistance. “The WhatsApp groups have been an amazing tool for our community and have assisted tremendously with reducing crime and monitoring unusual behaviour,” Coe said.
“We have very passionate members that in an instant will come to your rescue to assist in keeping our areas safe or find a missing family pet. We have a strong partnership with RCIPS and this has made a major difference with response time to incidents in the area.”
A donation box has been set up at the Seafarers Hall and items can be dropped off weekdays from 7am to 3pm. For a list of school supplies the students will need go to the Prospect Red Bay Community Group Facebook page. In addition, the group will accept such items as disinfecting spray and wipes, and hand sanitiser. The Ministry of Education will be providing composition books.
Donations can also be brought to the next monthly meeting of the group at the Seafarers Hall on Monday, 2 September at 7pm.
[feelbox]For more information or to arrange for collection or drop-off of donated supplies email prospectcommunity345@gmail.com
Category: Community, Donations, Education, Local News, Primary School, Schools
