Jamaica: Adventist Church ease financial burden for back-to school students

August 21, 2013 – Ocho Rios, Jamaica…Dyhann Buddoo-Fletcher/IAD

Dr. Tamara Henry conducts a vision check on Briana Clarke, and asks her to read the letters from her iPhone, during the 5th annual Health, Education, and Skills Expo held at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, Jamaica on Aug. 14, 2013. Image by Dyhann-Buddoo-Fletcher/IAD

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, Jamaica, recognized the plight of many struggling families as they prepare their children for the new school year and helped ease the financial burden by hosting its fifth annual Health, Education, and Skills Expo on Aug. 14, 2013.

The event took place at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ocho Rios, and at the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) open lot.

“People are facing serious financial challenges and cannot find the money to buy school books, uniforms and other necessities,” said Pastor Omri Davis, health ministries director for North Jamaica and Pastor of the Ocho Rios Adventist Church. “That is why as a church we are conducting this fair and expo to educate, empower and help to ease the financial burden.”

The expo attracted thousands of individuals from across St. Ann and its neighboring parishes who benefitted from text book sale for as little as $10.00, free health checks, talks on wise financial management, saving towards education and skills training segment.

One of thirteen business entities that supported the Ocho Rios Adventist Church Health, Education and Skills Expo, Bashco Jamaica Limited, sells stationary and school supplies at a reduced rate to a customer,

Surprised by the offerings Kaydian Williams was thankful.

“Where on earth would you find text books selling for $10.00 or $100.00,” said Williams. “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.”

“This was a real crowd puller,” said Dotlyn Bailey, main coordinator of the event and education sponsor for Ocho Rios Adventist Church. Bailey said that the church really understands the financial situation.

“We see the needs daily and because of this, we might have attracted over 2,000 persons. One lady told me she was coming from as far as St. Mary to purchase school books and she got most of them,” said Bailey. “Hundreds of students benefitted from the free medical checks offered to them. This was indeed a crowd puller.”

The event was such a success that church leaders scheduled additional medical doctors to tend to the crowds a week later, according to Bailey.