•   France Chambers, Associate Communication Director, West Jamaica Conference
•  Friday, September 2, 2022

The West Jamaica Conference charity arm, WJC Transforming Lives Foundation, hosted a back-to-school and health fair at the Conference Grounds on Sunday, August 14, 2022. Approximately 120 students from the Mount Salem area and its environs benefited from the initiative.

According to Janice McGrowther, Secretary of the Foundation, the initiative was a fulfillment of “one of our mandates, which is to improve the educational support of the individuals who are less fortunate.”

She continued by expressing satisfaction with the fact that the objective of the event was achieved. “We were very happy for the individuals who turned out,” said McGrowther. “We, also, had a set target of the number of persons that we wanted to benefit and we were able to achieve that target, so we were happy to be able to serve the community, as that is what we are about,” she added.
Erica Barnett, Secretary of the President's Lay Advisory Committee (PLAC), was also pleased with the impact that the programme had on the beneficiaries and believes that it has come as a great relief to the parents who are making plans for their children’s return to school.
In speaking about the kind of reception by the parents and students she observed that they were appreciative of the gifts. “I believe that it will help them, as some persons won’t have to purchase a bag anymore."

Judy-Anna, a parent from the area, was appreciative of the assistance as she will not have to purchase any bags among other things, and was also impressed by the quality of the gifts that her children received.
“I won’t have to buy bags for my three children,” said the relieved mother. She also went on to describe the quality of the bag as being “really strong.”
Attendees also benefited from the services of the St James Health Department, which provided free nutritional presentations, the Tax Administration of Jamaica with property tax services, and the National Insurance Scheme among other entities. Students were also given notebooks, pens, pencils, rulers, and erasers. Seventh-day Adventist Churches and organizations across the Conference also initiated numerous health fairs and back-to-school initiatives during the month of August.