Bermudians have donated thousands of pounds of clothing and materials for schoolchildren in Ghana.

The items have been shipped by DHL Express Bermuda staff in partnership with the local church, Restoration Fellowship.

“So much generosity was shown by the Bermudian public to these children who we had never met — it was humbling,” said Rob Brown, general manager of DHL Bermuda.

The company reported moving roughly 2,500lbs of donated goods to Ghana.

Added Mr Brown: “DHL operates in more than 229 countries around the world, and it’s important to us that we help and support the communities we live and operate in.

“Partnerships like this help improve the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves, and that it was a pleasure to assist in this project”.

He said that in 2009 the late Bishop Christopher Haynes, along with Pastor Roxanne Haynes of Restoration Fellowship Bermuda, had been introduced while on a ministry trip in New York to a “selfless, dynamic and humble” missionary from Ghana: Rev Alberta Smith.

Finding Rev Smith’s compassion contagious, the Hayneses immediately pledged support, along with that of Restoration Fellowship.

Janita Bean, head of the Missions Ministry at Restoration Fellowship, was directed to commence assistance for Rev Smith, and she travelled to Ghana over the summer of 2010, and spending eight days with Rev Smith and the children — teaching dance as well as English, and helping in the school.

While education is free in Ghana, parents have to pay for uniforms and books. In many cases, children are required to work during the day to help their parents, and can therefore not attend school.

Ms Bean said she’d been “amazed” that some of the children walked more than four miles to and from Rev Smith’s school at Nkonya, then located in Ghana’s Volta Region.

In December 2013, Pastor Haynes organised a Christmas/New Year drive for the children of Ghana. Clothing, shoes, toiletries, books, school supplies, computers, toys and other supplies were needed and members were asked to donate gently used or new items to the school.

One church member shared the project with Mr Brown, to see if DHL would sponsor transporting the donated items.

Along with DHL’s Ramon Brangman, Mr Brown met in January of this year with Pastor Haynes, Rev Smith and Ms Bean, to discuss the project and DHL’s involvement.

The company pledged its support under DHL’s humanitarian aid initiative, known as ‘Go Help and Go Teach’, and liaised with DHL Express in Ghana for assistance to deliver the supplies.

For details or to learn about helping, contact Janita Bean of Restoration Fellowship at missions@rfbermuda.com.