Artist and philanthropist D’Angel is aiming to assist 500 Jamaican children return to school in September through her Angel’s Foundation.
The Stronger singjay, who is IRAWMA’s 2024 Humanitarian of the Year, has been using her social media to appeal to donors.
“We want to do 500 needy kids’ back-to-school,” she said in a video on Wednesday. “We’re talking about the children which are the future – 500 – so, don’t watch this video and wait til the day of you’re saying, ‘Oh God. Mi sorry I never help’… Don’t have it to can do it, and sit down with your money and nuh do it. It nah go mek yuh bruk, it nah go mek yuh worse (off), it just a go mek yuh blessed. No matter how small it is guys, send it.”
The drive is scheduled for August 30 and is set to benefit students up to the secondary level.
“We’re talking about from the kindergarten to the primary school to high school… We need your support.”
People can make donations in Kingston or D’Angel’s St. Catherine stomping ground.
“We have two drop-off locations: Kings Plaza, Style Evolution, shop #6, Constant Spring Road,” D’Angel shared. “The other one is 47 Young Street, Spanish Town, at Sunny Negril’s Spice shop… You can drop off shoes, bag, any one of the things dem weh can go inna the bag, you can drop it off… A pack of pencils, a pack of books, crayons, anything you can…so you don’t have no excuse.”
Calling on corporate entities for sponsorship, D’Angel did a cost breakdown to highlight the expense of executing the back-to-school drive.
“I just did a rough check… 500 of the cheaper bag dem a JMD$900,000+ and we nuh go shoes yet, so it’s a big shoes to fill,” she said. “If we all come together, millions of people watch me every day and if those millions of people can just donate, it makes it a reality.”
The No Worries collaborator proceeded to thank existing donors, and shared the motivation behind her foundation’s efforts despite the financial challenge.
“Thanks to everyone that has been donating so far; I really, really appreciate you guys,” she said. “I’ve been doing this for eight years strong and I’m also the humanitarian of the year. It’s not only my responsibility, but it’s my will to continue this.”
