Hundreds visited CedarBridge Academy yesterday to pick up donated uniforms and school supplies.

The Each One Reach One campaign, held by Gina Spence Programme and the Gibbons Company, hosted its giveaway for families in need.

Halfway through the event, the charity presented a $500 gift card to Yahnee Smith, who was randomly selected from the crowd.

Ms Smith, a mother of three, said: “I think it’s very, very nice to see people coming together.

“I’m very grateful for the Gina Spence Programme, their volunteers and Gina Spence especially for coming up with this.”

The Each One Reach One campaign offers back-to-school assistance for families in need of support.

It is noted that as well as financial needs, factors such as illness and family tragedy can increase the requirement for help.

Ms Smith, from Sandys, said she attended the giveaway after it was recommended to her by a friend.

She said that although she had seen it take place for many years, she finally decided to attend.

Ms Smith said: “It’s not easy in Bermuda trying to get school clothes for all three, especially my daughter who’s just starting a new school.

“Uniforms are pretty expensive, and I was told to come here and that it’s a good place to get help for that time of year.”

Ms Smith said that, while in line, she was approached by a woman and asked how many children she had.

She added that when she told her about her three children, she was pulled aside and told she was selected for the gift certificate.

Ms Smith said: “I was like, ‘Serious? Us?’

“It was very surprising and exciting. My daughters were very happy.”

She added: “It’s not easy, from buying clothes to healthcare. Everything’s hard.

“Everyone’s asking for money right now and this is the time that you start signing your children up for things like tutoring of extracurriculars.

“It can be overwhelming, so it’s a big help knowing that my children can get stuff from Gibbons Company.”

Ms Smith said that the $500 gift card would go towards school uniforms for her son, Jamiir, 5, and her two daughters Jerzi, 11, and Yahri, 12.

She added that she hoped to one day have her children volunteer with the programme when they are old enough.

The campaign set a fundraising goal this year of $80,000.

Successful applicants receive gift cards based on funds raised.

Everyone who attends the event is given the opportunity to select from donated gently used clothes.

Ms Spence-Virgil said that the charity had 400 people who registered ahead of time with about 100 walk-ins, but added that they could see as many as 750 people arrive.

She added: “We’re still receiving donations, which is excellent.

“We won’t be able to give an account until we’ve got our finance team to do a reconciliation, but what I can say is that the donations are still coming in.

“We’ve had such a great abundance of gently used uniforms that every child will get something.”

Ms Spence-Virgil said that the drive had received donations of 800 full school uniforms.

She added that her volunteers, some of whom received support from the campaign when they were younger, helped to set up despite stormy weather from Hurricane Erin on Thursday.

Ms Spence-Virgil said: “Our volunteers came out in that wind and rain right up until last night.

“Thursday night this place was full of people sorting clothes for families.

“That to me is phenomenal — people really pushed through a storm.”

Jackie Napier-Marsh, the retail operations manager at Gibbons, said it was “fulfilling” to see people helping one another through GSP.

She added: “It’s just beautiful to see this, because sometimes people need a handout and it just helps to know that other people are thinking about you.

“Bermuda is quite expensive — everybody knows this — and sometimes you have children in public school or even private school.

“It doesn’t hurt to have a little leg-up on something.

“So when someone is working to help others, it’s amazing.”

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