Social Protection Board Distributes Back-to-School Supplies

The Social Protection Board has launched its annual back-to-school supplies distribution, with hundreds of families expected to benefit over the next two days.

Operations Manager Mary Baltimore said the exercise is being held at the Rising Sun Grounds and should reach between 300 and 400 people.

“This is a programme that we undertake every year,” Baltimore explained. “We work with several partners, mainly businesses, who provide the items we distribute to families in need. Our focus is on those at the lower rung of the economic ladder who struggle to cover the cost of supplies for their school-age children.”

Parents will receive school bags stocked with books, pens, pencils, and other essentials. Some families will also receive shoes for their children, but Baltimore stressed that children must be present to ensure proper fitting.

The Social Protection Board — formerly known as the Board of Guardians — provides a range of social safety net services, including the monthly distribution of food vouchers and emergency aid to fire victims. While not directly managed by the agency, the HAPI Programme and the Soup Kitchen run by Inspector Veldon Raggette also complement its work.

The agency extends similar support to residents of Barbuda.