West Bay food drive will help those in need

(CNS): A number of families in West Bay will benefit over the coming weeks from a hurricane season food drive, which is a project devised and co-ordinated by West Bay Neighbourhood Officer PC Sharon Baillie and Wesleyan Christian Academy Principal Becky Profitt as part of the on-going RCIPS initiative, Junior Police Academy. Students collected several bags of non-perishable food over the last four months, which they then presented to the Department of Children and Family Services to coordinate its distribution.

PC Baillie, who visits the school almost every day, said she was extremely proud of the efforts made by the students.

"They’ve done a great job,” the local beat officer said. “This was all about teaching the youngsters about good citizenship and how to be positive role models in the community. It’s clear that they’ve taken those sentiments to heart. I’m sure that many people in the West Bay area will be delighted by the donations of food. The distribution is being coordinated by staff of the Department of Children and Family Services, who partnered with us on this important project.”

The department's Cassandra Parchment said the community spirit of the students would enable the department to help more people who are in need in West Bay.

“It is so important for children to recognise others who are in need and see that they too can lend a hand. In doing this they become more aware and gain exposure to what is going on in our own communities and around the world,” she said.

Following the success of the project the principal said the school would be continuing this type of project in the future.