Payne Land native hosts back-to-school treat

With the new school year just weeks away, hundreds of children and parents flocked to the Payne Land Community Centre on Monday for a massive back-to-school treat, hosted by one of its native daughters.

"The demand for back-to-school supplies is very heavy, to the point where it breaks your heart because you can't give everybody. But we're giving over 400 kids book bags filled with supplies," said Janice Francis, founder of the Teen Moms Initiative. Francis was born to teenage parents and later became a teenage mother. She said her personal journey was the driving force behind her commitment to giving back.

"My message to teen parents is simple: your dream might be deferred, but it's not denied. Your child is not a reason to stop, but a reason to keep going," she said.

Francis, who now lives in Atlanta, said her passion for education and community comes from her family's legacy.

"I was raised right here in Payne Land until I migrated at age five. My dad was a councillor for the area, so giving back is in my blood. People have invested a lot in me, so it's only right that I invest in others. We believe strongly in paying it forward," she said.

Her daughter, now 24 and pursuing a master's degree, is proof, she said, that cycles can be broken.

"She's the result of teen parenting, but she has no kids, and she's doing her master's. That shows that when one generation pushes forward, the next can do even greater," Francis said proudly.

Councillor of the Payne Land division Devon Jackson, who partnered on the treat, described the turnout as overwhelming.

"It was a very large turnout. We didn't even have enough bags for all the kids. Most of the parents who came are single mothers struggling with books, uniforms, shoes, and school fees. But they are grateful for whatever they get."

Jackson also issued a call to young fathers across Jamaica, saying the mothers can't do it alone.

"I'm appealing to all the young men [who] stick with your kids. The future is in our hands, and education is the way out. Once children are educated, they can think for themselves and are less likely to be misled down the wrong path," he urged.

For parents like 43-year-old Donna Campbell, who has three children, the event was nothing short of a blessing.

"This treat came at the right time. I honestly wasn't sure how I was going to manage with the hefty booklist for one child going into grade seven and another in basic school," she shared. "It really lift a weight off my shoulders so mi can buy something else."

Along with book bags, volunteers distributed notebooks, calculators, pencils, crayons, hygiene kits, and even laptops to outstanding students. Organisers promised that the annual back-to-school event will continue to grow.

"Every year, the goal is bigger and better," Francis vowed.