BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Cotton Thomas Comprehensive School in St. Kitts and the Special Education Unit in Nevis were on Friday (Jan. 3) given a timely and much needed donation by the St. Kitts and Nevis Association of Houston (SKNAH).
The donation was made at the Cotton Thomas Comprehensive School's location at Wiggley Avenue, where members of SKNAH handed over two barrels filled with miscellaneous items to the schools.
Items included beads, pencils, pens, scissors, crayons, glitter dust, educational DVDs, rubbers, play dough, washable paints, yarn, etc.
SKNAH Executive Member Janielle Maynard, in handing over the items to the schools, expressed how proud the association was to donate the items.
"On behalf of the President and Executive Board of SKNAH, it is with great pride and satisfaction that we hand over these items to both the Cotton Thomas Comprehensive School in St. Kitts and the Special Education in Nevis."
Principals of both schools, Charmaine Blanchette [St. Kitts] and Violet Clarke [Nevis] accepted the barrels and thanked the association for its timely and generous donation.
Another Executive Member of SKNAH Denise Patrick explained what their organisation does and how it came into being. She stated that the donation formed part of the association's Pack the Barrel Programme.
"Our Pack the Barrel Programme started about three years ago. A group of Kittitians and Nevisians in Houston came together and realised that we have needs at home. And although we are in the US [Unites States] we still want to reach out and help our people in any way that we possibly can.
"So every year we reach out to the Federation and we ask that individuals identify an organisation that has a need, and we vet that organisation and then we go shopping. And here we are presenting all of these items.," she explained.
Patrick called on persons to contact their association if they or other people were in need of assistance in any way.
"What we ask is if you have a need or if you have a family who needs assistance, it could be the elderly, jut reach out to SKNAH. Our website is www.sknah.org or you can give myself a call. My number is 832 654 9686.
"We will get with you, we will work with you and we will try our very best to find ways throughout the year so we can meet your needs at the end of the year," she said.
