A mother has set up a new charity to make sure school children get uniforms and food.

Grejai Smith has founded No Child Goes Without, which aims to provide lunches, school supplies and uniforms for children that would normally struggle for these items.

"I know within my heart that Bermudians are proud people," she said. "You have some people that will never ask for help but it's common knowledge that there are children that go to school without lunch or when school starts, you have children that don't have the basics, like a new school shirt, or new school pants and I just want to do my part to help out in that area."

The charity unofficially began in April when Ms Smith, 37, put aside funds from her birthday in an effort to give back to the community. Now she is awaiting her official charity status from the Registry General.

"We are not here to judge you or get into your personal life," said Ms Smith. "We want to make it so your child is able to strive and in order to do that they have to eat. Please don't let pride be an issue."

Ms Smith experienced first hand the financial difficulties of parenthood when her three-year-old daughter M'Rickle was born.

She admits there were times when she wasn't sure where money for groceries was going to come from.

But unlike others, Ms Smith has always had support from her daughter's father, family and friends and M'Rickle has never had to go without.

She said: "Since I've had my daughter, I have become sensitive to a lot of issues that I normally wouldn't think twice about.

"For me, being a mom, having financial support from her father, it's still difficult, so I can only imagine how hard it is for those out there that don't have support, that have more than one kid, that have the minimum wage job, just trying to make it."

Ms Smith believes that people are often apprehensive when it comes to new charities, but so far the community has been supportive and donations have been steadily coming in, including a $4,500 donation from the Belco Cup and monies donated from Lionel Cann's annual six-a-side game.

She believes there is a need for a support system for parents, which is why Ms Smith has been trying to get 'No Child Goes Without' off the ground.

She said: "I am basically trying to be that kind of support a lot of people don't have people they can run to for help and I would like to be that place, they can turn to and say 'I need lunch money'."

But Ms Smith stressed it is not a programme for people too tired to go grocery shopping. All applicants must fill out an Information form, available at Post Offices Islandwide, and will also have to go through a confidential interview stage, where the level of urgency will be assessed.

This summer Ms Smith and three staff members, will be reaching out for volunteers and corporate sponsors so the programme can start in September. And by next year, Ms Smith hopes to be able to extend her scope to help parents with the cost of summer camps.

"My goal is that 'No Child Goes Without' will be Islandwide, we have to start with our baby steps, but we are foreseeing that it's going to be huge," she said.

Anyone interested in more information can email Ms Smith at nochildgoeswithout@hotmail.com or contact her on 296-0193 or 538-6198.