By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

ALPHA Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc, Pi Upsilon Omega Chapter, presented nutritious power packs to about 50 students at Holmes Rock Primary School in Grand Bahama on Wednesday, September 10.

The presentation was part of AKA’s Childhood Hunger Initiative Power Pack (CHIPP) programme to address childhood hunger by providing weekend meals to children in local communities.

Rashema Ingraham, first vice president, said the local chapter has been distributing CHIPP packs at the school since 2023 with the support of community partners and sponsors.

She said 51 students at Holmes Rock Primary are currently enrolled in the programme. “These children have met the requirements for the government of The Bahamas’ National School Feeding Programme, which provides meals Mondays through Fridays. CHIPP fills in the gap on weekends,” she said.

In addition to CHIPP, the chapter launched a Back-to-School Drive and Giveaway, presenting a dozen teachers at the school with much-needed classroom supplies for the new academic year.

Ms Ingraham thanked the corporate sponsors who supported both initiatives, including Green Acres (Delano Mortimer), Flawless Construction (Justin Gape), Johnson Auto (Jason Johnson), and Telecom Trading. She also acknowledged sponsors who assisted with the programme’s initial launch in 2023: Seaport Commercial and Industrial Contractors (Franco Miller), Island Luck (Sebas Bastian), and Neighbourhood Apartment Rental (Jason Martin).

Principal Alana Lindsay said: “I am just elated to have you come in and not only donate to our students, but also to our teachers with much-needed supplies to start the school year. Words cannot express my gratitude and the excitement we are experiencing today. We are overjoyed to have AKA here, and we look forward to more partnerships in the future.”

Ms Lindsay added that the CHIPP programme has been warmly received at the school. “About 50 of our kids benefit from the power packs, and the sorority has been doing this for the past two to three years. Parents have already been asking me about it this year, so it is well recognised and well received,” she said.