Twenty samples, six months, four international companies and two strategic corporate partners later, a massive back-to-school effort sponsored by Bahamas Striping Group of Companies (BSGC) is officially off and running with school supplies set to arrive in the capital in a matter of weeks for 10,000 students across The Bahamas.
“The whole idea of this is to showcase how corporate Bahamas and community outreach organizations can work together to bring much-needed relief to persons in the community,” said Atario Mitchell, BSGC president, in announcing the annual initiative set to benefit students heading into the 2018/2019 school year.
“We know that it’s tough times out there and this will go a long way in easing the burden on some families.”
BSGC partnered with Betty K, one of the largest shippers in The Bahamas, and Island Maritime Customs Brokerage to import the school supplies.
The striping company has tapped service-oriented civic clubs, such as Rotary Bahamas and Kiwanis, to aid in the packing and distribution.
The giveaway has more than tripled in size since its 2013 launch, which saw the company and its subsidiary, Airport Maintenance Services Ltd., donate 3,000 bags to the Urban Renewal Commission that year.
Last year, the initiative expanded to include notebooks. This year pens, pencils, sharpeners and rulers are being added to the bag.
When your mission is to provide back to school supplies to thousands of students every dollar counts.
It fell to Tyrone Mitchell to ensure Bahamas Striping received the greatest bang for its buck in sourcing products from various wholesale suppliers.
“We wanted to ensure the quality of the bags, that zippers worked, that the pockets, the various compartments on the bag and the actual fabric could withstand the wear and tear of the school year,” said Mitchell, the operations officer.
“The goal was to find the best product we could in line with our limited budget. I’m satisfied with what we found.”
The company settled on four styles available in 10 colours. They are expected to arrive in the capital shortly after the July 10, Independence Day celebrations.
Then, the supplies will be dispersed from BSGC, sometime during the last week in July, providing civic organizations and charitable outreach programmes sufficient time to stage their respective back-to-school events.
Distribution will take place through the various organizations and not through Bahamas Striping’s headquarters on Abundant Life Road.
“A lot of times when we see initiatives like this, they are very much New Providence-centric, but what’s important for us is to ensure that kids on the smaller islands and cays are also going to be impacted,” said Dr Allen Albury, BSGC’s managing director.
From Grand Bahama in the north, to Rum Cay and San Salvador in the south to sparsely populated cays in Abaco, Bimini and the Berry Islands, Bahamas Striping expects its back-to-school initiative to have a tremendous impact on small communities where economies aren’t strong or thriving.
“The reason why we bring our bags in so early is to give parents a little bit of a head start and kids a jumpstart, so they know it’s one thing they could scratch off their list,” said Fredericka Sturrup, senior vice president of human resources and operations.
According to Mario Smith, assistant governor of Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas (East), the back-to-school initiative’s timing is perfect. Recently, Rotary International’s President Barry Rassin challenged Rotarians to be “the inspiration,” fostering greater collaboration and partnerships within the community.
“We are happy to partner with Bahamas Striping who has proven to be a great company with a social conscious,” said Mr Smith.
“I am very pleased to see the increase in the bags and the distribution to the Family Islands. We know those economies are hurting a little more than the economy in New Providence.
I’m sure that the parents and students will be very appreciative as this will go a very long way.”
Working closely as it does with Sandilands Primary, Anithra-Lunette Cartwright, president of Kiwanis Club of Fox Hill, East Nassau knows first-hand how great the need is in certain communities.
“We have been working with students at Sandilands Primary for the past four years. We’ve found that on a daily basis students do not have all the necessities of school supplies that are needed to do their daily work,” she reported.
“The interest Bahamas Striping is showing by doing this initiative, we are definitely in full support of it.
We want to commend them for the work they do in the community, not only this but everything else they have done before. It does stand out and it is needed.”
Last week, BSGC donated five brand new HP desktops to Programme S.U.R.E, the intervention institution for at-risk boys.
Bahamas Striping is a leader in quality striping and road paving. Within its group of companies is Airport Maintenance Services specialising in all aspects of aerodrome maintenance services at world-class standards; Caribbean Pavement Solutions, a regional distributor for asphalt rejuvenation; Bahamas Themed Photography, a company specialising in high-end digital imaging services; Abaco Caribbean Holdings and Atillio Holdings, a property investment, management and development subsidiary.
In the coming weeks, Bahamas Striping Group of Companies will oversee the packing and distribution of 10,000 backpacks with an assortment of school supplies to students across the Bahamas through a partnership with Betty K, Island Maritime Customs Brokerage, Rotary Bahamas, Kiwanis and other non-profit organizations.
The announcement was made by BSGC's executives at a press conference on Monday, July 2.
From left to right: Dr Allen Albury, BSGC’s managing director; BSGC’s President Atario Mitchell; Mario Smith, assistant governor of Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas (East); Fredericka Sturrup, senior vice president of human resources and operations; Tyrone Mitchell, operations officer and Anithra-Lunette Cartwright, president of Kiwanis Club of Fox Hill, East Nassau. Photo courtesy of Bahamas Striping Group of Companies
