PHILIPSBURG – When 15-year-old Learning Unlimited (LU) student Ki-Mani Olivacce called on his community to contribute to a worthy cause, as he kicks off a school supplies drive for students in need on St. Maarten, Rotary-Mid Isle Community Service Director Anjali Manek immediately sought the club’s board for approval for donating to this worthy cause.
While it was decided to collect funds from Mid Isle members and the club, AUC student Rotarian Brian Greene brought up the suggestion of requesting similar donations from the Latinos Medical Students Association (LMSA) at AUC.
This resulted in a total of 90 school bags with supplies, 40 from Rotary Mid Isle and 50 from LMSA, which were presented to Olivacce at last Tuesday’s Rotary meeting.
President Veronica Jansen thanked both Rotarians Manek and Greene for organizing the presentation of the school bags. Olivacce, who was accompanied by his parents, mentioned that he was very grateful for the donations, and will distribute these items to those students who are unable to afford school supplies.
On hand to present their bags on behalf of the LMSA were Kayla Anthony and Patrick Bergin, who said that they are happy to be able to give back to the community in this way.
Olivacce’s back to school drive seeks to inspire the private sector and individual citizens to donate the most necessary and useful school items, such as agendas, binders, backpacks, colored pencils, pens, dividers, folders, glue, erasers, highlighters, calculators, notebooks, etc.
Olivacce is also seriously considering joining the Interact Club, a Rotary-sponsored club for young people ages 12-18, who want to join together to tackle the issues in their community that they care most about.
