AS families across Jamaica prepare for the new school year, the Digicel Foundation is helping to ease the financial burden of back-to-school preparations, delivering more than 500 backpacks filled with essential school supplies to students across selected schools, special needs institutions, and community groups.

The annual initiative is part of the Digicel Foundation’s continued commitment to education and community development.

This year, the programme took on added significance for families in western Jamaica, where more than 300 of the 500-plus students receiving support were affected by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa last October.