Jump in, pick up a tool, and make your voice heard.
August 31 st to September 4 th 2013 saw the National Baking Company and their amazing team of volunteers sorting and packing 3000 learning kits. 642,000 crayons, 32,400 puppets, 21,600 tubes of glue sticks, 10,800 pairs of scissors, 54,000 tubs of paint, 21,600 paintbrushes, 5,400 balls, 3000 ABC blocks, 3000 coloured blocks, 3000 puzzles, 3000 shape sequencing sets, 3000 lacing tools, 3000 pegboards sets and 10,800 tubs of play doh were bought and packed by the National Baking Company. The Gleaner donated 2, 400,000 pages of blank paper which were divided and placed in each kit. Each of this year’s kits also included a Crayons Count Learning Booklet, printed by The Gleaner, which featured ideas for activities using Crayons Count tools to meet curriculum objectives.
A preview of all the learning tools in the Crayons Count kit
A kit all assembled
Food for the Poor Jamaica was extremely instrumental in this process too as they shipped and cleared every single container off the wharf for Crayons Count. AMG Packaging donated all 3000 boxes for packing whilst the Price Family Charitable Fund donated all the Scholastic books. Zoukie Trucking lent Crayons Count a forklift and containers for storage and transported the tools to the warehouse in Kingston. 3M Jamaica lent a giant taping machine that ensured packing went smoothly.
Zoukie Trucking was kind enough to lend Crayons Count a forklift to help with sorting at the National Baking Company’s Crayons Count packing site
The hard-working and dedicated staff at the National Baking Company did all the packing and worked hard every day to get the boxes packed in record time. They donated their time and energy and for that, Crayons Count is eternally grateful. The real ‘big man’ Gary ‘Butch’ Hendrickson, Chairman of the National Baking Company was right in the fray, manning the assembling and packing process; flattening boxes, packing tools, loading boxes.
Packing and sorting with Gary ‘Butch’ Hendrickson
The National Baking Company team hard at work
Founder of the Mustard Seed Communities, Monsignor Gregory Ramkissoon was present one day at the assembling of the kits and had nothing but great things to say about the speed and efficiency of the packing team.
Monsignor Gregory Ramkissoon and Gary ‘Butch’ Hendrickson in deep conversation
We at Crayons Count don’t have words to express how grateful we are to all our sponsors especially the National Baking Company who, is also right now, distributing the 3000 kits to basic schools island wide. Can you say generous? Distribution is in full force this week and we are on the move. All basic schools that have applied for registration with Early Childhood Commission (ECC) are eligible, that is approximately 2700 basic schools and 130,000 children.
Distribution in Montego Bay
Thanks too to all the people and companies that have helped along the way. Special mention to the students of the Florida A & M University Caribbean Students Association who took great joy in giving to the children of Jamaica. Thank You!
One happy camper!
Crayons Count and our partners have one thing in common; we are committed to kids and we will get it done. Come and support the cause.
