St Martins Past Students Association donates to schools and other entities
THE ST MARTIN’S Secondary School Past Students Association (SAMPASA), has teamed up with the Mount Olive Baptist Church of Centerville, Virgina, USA to donate a quantity of supplies to schools, churches and scholarship holders of the school. A release from the organisation states that this follows a joint visit from members of SAMPASA North America Inc. and members of the Mount Olive Baptist Church that resulted in an outreach that took place from July 21-31, 2024.
Donations of books were made to the Du Bois Government School, food packages to the scholarship holders of the St Martin’s Secondary School, as well as churches on the mainland and Bequia, and families both on the windward and leeward sides of the mainland. In all, 256 packages were handed over, the release further states.
President of SAMPASA, Ivan Morgan said donations of solar lights also were made to the people of Mayreau and Union Island following the passage of hurricane Beryl on July 1, 2024 which caused widespread devastation especially in the southern Grenadines.
“ We donated US$2,217.00 to Principal of the St Martin’s Secondary School, Yohance Gibson, [and] funds allocated to repair the roof of a student whose home was destroyed during Hurricane Beryl.”
Morgan pointed out that SAMPASA, which was formed in 2020, is going above and beyond as they seek to have a greater humanitarian impact on the Vincentian community.
“ During our 10-day visit, we went to Bonhomme in Stubbs where we painted a two-story building for a young family. It gave us an opportunity to help [someone] who really needed it,” Morgan is quoted as saying.
The organisation also intends to work with the blood bank of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital thus ensuring a steady flow of blood donors from their alumni and their families to that health institution.
Recording secretary of SAMPASA, Marcus Coombs got the process going when he made a blood donation on Tuesday, July 30.
Morgan also said that SAMPASA is working closely with RedRoot SVG Inc. and its programme which offers counselling and emotional support for persons suffering with anxiety disorders among other things.
He said with the generous donations and hard work by the active members of the organisation, they are able to do more, hence the outreach programme.
“ When we started four years ago, our major intent was to give supplies and assistance to the St Martin’s Secondary School and its students, but we have extended it to other communities as well,” Morgan said with a sense of accomplishment.
The Mission of SAMPASA reads : SAMPASA NA Inc. will assist and support its Alma Mater’s current and past students. The goal being that all who enter as students shall have the opportunity to graduate with an excellent education.