The Karing Hearts Foundation continued its commitment to community development, health, and wellness with the staging of its annual Health Fair and Back-to-School Treat at Font Hill Primary School in St. Thomas on August 14.
Now in its ninth year, the initiative forms part of the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to support the well-being and development of individuals and families in Font Hill and neighbouring communities.
Residents benefited from a range of free services, including back-to-school assistance, medical consultations, and information and support provided by several government agencies and non-governmental organisations.
Speaking with JIS News, Managing Director of Karing Hearts, Kayann Wallace, described the event as a “one-stop shop” that enabled residents to access information and services aimed at improving their quality of life.
She said the primary aim of the annual event is to ensure that community members “get access to the free services” being provided.
Among the participating agencies were HEART/NSTA Trust, Jamaica Information Service (JIS), National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), Restorative Justice, Legal Aid Council, Children’s First Agency, Teen Hub St. Thomas, Office of the Children’s Advocate, and the National Health Fund (NHF).
Ms. Wallace encouraged beneficiaries to take full advantage of the information and services available, while reaffirming the Foundation’s commitment to community development.
Team member, Kemone Brown, said the health fair gave residents access to essential services, while the Back-to-School Treat provided much-needed support to students preparing for the 2026/27 academic year.
“The target audiences are really the children and the people of Font Hill district… and we hope that they take away that their community still cares for them,” she said.
Ms. Brown noted that many of the Foundation’s supporters have deep roots in Font Hill, and return each year to give back to the community.
“We want them to know that we still care about them, we love them, and we want them to continue to better their own lives,” she said.
Ms. Brown noted that the initiative “has [grown] bigger and better every year” since its inception in 2017.
“We have more support… we’ve been able to reach more people in the community, and we know that it’s just going to keep getting done,” she added.
Looking ahead, Ms. Brown said the Foundation hopes to expand the initiative beyond Font Hill.
The aim, she said, is to “extend it into many districts across Jamaica”, allowing more communities to benefit from the Foundation’s health, wellness and educational support initiatives.
