RICHIE FERRERA: In Jacksonville, Florida, a public elementary school struggling with the challenges of school supply shortages, receives timely aid as part of a series of INC’s humanitarian efforts. KC Humphries has the details.
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TRICIA FOX (STAFF MEMBER, SOUTHSIDE ESTATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA): We were just told that there was a presentation at five and we walked over there.
KATY LAMBERT (TEACHER, SOUTHSIDE ESTATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA): Our principal announced it. They let us know, she let us know, and she told the whole school to come. And then we kind of show everybody coming in. And we were all really intrigued to see what was going on and hear more about it.
ALEXANDER JONES (STAFF MEMBER, SOUTHSIDE ESTATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA): When I first pulled up and I seen everybody coming out the truck with all these bags here, I was amazed and I was happy to hear that it was something that was going to be given away or donated to the school and to the surrounding community.
KC HUMPHRIES (INC NEWS CORRESPONDENT): Southside Estates Elementary School, one of many public schools in Duval County, Florida comprising of over 500 students and staff members. According to statistics, education funding has resulted in a severe lack of school supplies as well as overall operating cost increases surpassing revenue due to rising inflation cost.
TERESA BROWN (PRINCIPAL, SOUTHSIDE ESTATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA): A lot of times parents are working to replenish school supplies. The stress of worrying about getting school supplies for my child.
KATY LAMBERT (TEACHER, SOUTHSIDE ESTATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA): Especially schools like ours, that are lower income and have a lot of needs.
KC HUMPHRIES (INC NEWS CORRESPONDENT): It would be through a Care For Humanity event, an outreach program of the Church Of Christ through its charitable partner, the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation, stepping in, to provide aid to the school as selected among this year’s recipients as part of a series of humanitarian efforts.
TRICIA FOX (STAFF MEMBER, SOUTHSIDE ESTATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA): It just started off with the prayers. And I just felt like this is the place to be. And then we saw all of those bags, and then the check for $15,000 was just, you know, there’s no way but God. That was totally God’s stepping in and helping out our school.
ALEXANDER JONES (STAFF MEMBER, SOUTHSIDE ESTATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA): Whoa, that’s a huge donation. Wow. And it’s amazing that you all are able to do it. I’m astounded that you all are able to actually present that to give that away to the school.
TERESA FLORENCE (PARENT, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA): All I can say. It’s just such a blessing to have this opportunity for the school and for the children.
BROTHER MARLONE BALASON (SUPERVISING MINISTER, ECCLESIASTICAL DISTRICT OF FLORIDA): We decided to help in this whole endeavor, to help this school meet the needs of their students, of the teachers, as well as the parents. One of the commandments of God is to help our fellowmen. As the charitable partner of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation has a greater reach throughout the different parts of the world. We were able to help the children here, the students here, the teachers here all aligned with that vision of our beloved Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo Manalo, in order to help our fellowmen.
TRICIA FOX (TEACHER, SOUTHSIDE ESTATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA): I’ve seen plenty of moves of God, but just a donation with all of these bags and all of these supplies for the kids is just beyond amazing. That’s going to help us to really do a lot for these kids and let them remember this campus of Southside Estates with a really good feeling.
TERESA BROWN (PRINCIPAL, SOUTHSIDE ESTATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA): The bags were packaged with care, the program was amazing. It was sincere, it was touching. It touched my heart. I have never seen or experience this type of gratitude before.
KATY LAMBERT (TEACHER, SOUTHSIDE ESTATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA): It’s always awesome to see programs that want to give back to schools and we always really just appreciate the support and the help that we can get from programs like yours that feed into not only the kids but the families and the teachers as well.
TRICIA FOX (TEACHER, SOUTHSIDE ESTATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA): I would like to thank Brother Eduardo Manalo for this amazing blessing. The difference it’s going to make. And our teachers and in our students.
TERESA BROWN (PRINCIPAL, SOUTHSIDE ESTATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA): [Brother] Eduardo Manalo. I just really, really appreciate your vision. And just like I said earlier during the presentation, there was so many schools on the Southside, so many schools in Duval County. But for us to be selected for Southside Estates to be selected was a blessing. And I genuinely thank you from the bottom of my heart.
KC HUMPHRIES (INC NEWS CORRESPONDENT): As the charitable partner of the Church Of Christ, the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation continues to extend its outreach to better provide and serve as a means of hope for those living in impoverished communities seeking a brighter tomorrow.
KC HUMPHRIES (INC NEWS CORRESPONDENT): If you want to learn more about the Church Of Christ, visit INCMedia.org/INC-NEWS-WORLD or subscribe to our YouTube channel at INCMedia.official.
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RICHIE FERRERA: Well, that does it for us on INC News World, tune in every Sunday for new episodes on INCTV and every Saturday on INCMedia.org, our YouTube channel and on streaming platforms. I’m Richard Ferrera. Thank you for joining us. Stay safe and we’ll see you next time. God bless.
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