College, drink distributor stage fish fry and hand over supplies
More efforts are being made to raise funds for Tacky High School in Gayle, St. Mary, a section of which was burnt down in a fire on Monday, May 5. The administration block was the main area affected by the fire, believed to be set by arsonists. However, since the fire, the school’s activities have been affected and various efforts are said to be on the way to help. Ocho Rios College, led by Ms Kerine Davis, was the main mover behind the effort. In the end, it was her team of staff members who fried the fish, made the festivals, shared the food and delivered it as far away as Ocho Rios, with the help of the principal Errol Basco and a teacher who made their vehicles available. There was much more tangible help though, in the form of furniture and equipment badly needed at the school. Tingle Distributors, distributors of energy drink Nitro, an Ocho Rios-based firm donated computers, filing cabinet and office supplies said to be worth nearly $750,000.
Ms Davis said there were other supporters including NCB, that gave office desks and Courts that provided a stove. Other supporting companies were ATL, Captains Bakery, Juci Beef, Great House Pharmacy, BCIC, TG Nationwide and Fontana Pharmacy. Some of the companies bought bulk tickets in support of the Fish Fry. The amount raised by the Fry was not known. Ms Davis who has a son at Tacky High said that a few days after the fire she attended a PTA meeting where the details of the needs were pointed out. She said she felt moved to do something for the school and got the principal’s permission to do a Fish Fry. Ms Davis said that she wrote letters and went out personally begging to make a success of the Fish Fry. She thanked those who contributed but said there was not enough of a spirit of giving among people
Principal of the school, Errol Basco was grateful for the support from Tingles and Ocho Rios College. Juline Henry, executive assistant and head of accounts and operations at Tingles Distributors said : “We are donating six filing cabinets, computers, microwaves (ovens), and office supplies to assist them in the re-building process. This value of our donation is over three quarter million dollars.” Head boy of the Tacky High School, Seon Biggs gave a huge thanks to Tingles Distributors for their donations and to Ocho Rios College for their effort.
