Every year, in an effort to make the school year brighter for Jamaican children and families in need, JAMPACT mobilizes the caring power of the community. To date, numerous volunteers and supporters have participated in the JAMPACT Annual School Supplies and Toy Drive events and donated their time for the greater good. The official launch for this year’s drive will be held at the Irie Jam Media Group Headquarters in Laurelton, New York on Saturday, June 19, 2010, and will kick off over two months of activities planned for this highly anticipated charitable initiative.
Last year, over 10 barrels filled with supplies were shipped and JAMPACT anticipates a significant increase this year. Boys and girls, ages 3 to 5 years old, who attend JAMPACT’s adopted basic schools in inner city Kingston will receive items such as back packs, books, crayons, markers, games, puzzles and more. JAMPACT is partnering with Jamaicans.com, Irie Jam Media, Trans-Continental Express Shippers and ZYNC TV, as well as retail locations and local organizations to provide public drop-off sites for these schools supplies.
Due to the recent destabilizing events occurring in West Kingston (home to a few of JAMPACT’s adopted schools), JAMPACT has called for even greater support from the community in New York and has reaffirmed the mission of it’s School Supplies and Toy Drive and Adopt-A-School program as having even greater relevance to those being affected in underserved communities.
In addition to being able to contribute items at the launch and the other community outreach events that follow, the public may visit the growing list of drop-off locations on an ongoing basis for the duration of the drive: June 19 to August 21, 2010.
Drop-Off Locations:
• Brooklyn: D’s Choice Restaurant, 262B E 96th Street (@Clarkson Ave.), Brooklyn, NY 11212
• Bronx: Getty Station, 3435 Baychester Ave., Bronx, NY 10469
Royal Tropical Bakery, 3400 Baychester Avenue, Bronx, NY 10469
Katashe’s Vegetarian Foods, 1312 Gunhill Road, Bronx, NY 10469
• Queens: Irie Jam Media Group, 233-16A Merrick Blvd., Laurelton, NY 11422
Laten’s Place Restaurant & Café, 119-09 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11434