By Alicia Barrett – Star Writer—-

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Children show off their new backpacks—

After famed fashion designer Ivy Ralph died last October, her daughter, Hollywood bigwig Sheryl Lee Ralph, decided to honour her last wishes.

That wish was to never forget the community of Chantilly, in Manchester, where the elder Ralph was from.

The actress/singer/producer/activist took her promise quite seriously and dedicated herself and her team to giving back to the children for the new school year which starts today.

The welcome and enthusiasm at the church service held at St Stephen’s Anglican Church in the community yesterday, where the handovers were made, far exceeded her expectations.

She told THE STAR that she was very happy and blessed that people came out and had the opportunity to receive something for their children to go back to school.

“For me to come back almost one year after my mom’s passing and give back is great. She was always clear about never forgetting Jamaica and never forgetting where you coming from. So I believe that I had to do something for the children for them to know that they were thought about,” she said.

Roughly 60 children were given items such as bags, books, pencils, and lunch kits.

Ralph said that she was overjoyed especially at the children’s expressions when they received their items.

“It was really something. It was so interesting to see the kids’ eyes light up. Some of them were just happy looking at the bags. They were so excited. Some of them were like ‘Oh my God, I’m ready’,” she said.

She said that it was not only about the children but the parents too as so many of them are overworked. She said she decided to do everything in a church service because her mother would approve.

She said that children and teachers alike from the Chantilly Primary and Basic schools came out in their numbers to what she deemed a successful event.

She said that she hopes that this church service would be the first of many events she would do on a yearly basis for the children.

“In their early years, that’s when you really need to connect with them to get that education to get them to graduate through the sixth grade. A lot of billionaires only have a sixth-grade education because they’ve got the basics so that’s what we want to focus on,” she said.