Devon Richards - Giving back with God's help

Dave Lindo, Gleaner Writer

CHILDREN FROM Greenvale, Manchester, will be starting the new school year on a positive note, thanks to the help of Devon Richards, operator of Rican Construction company, who gave a helping hand to the kids from the area in their back-to-school preparations.

Rican Construction, which is based in Greenvale, staged its annual back-to-school treat for the children from the community last week. The children were treated to their back-to-school supplies, including school bags, books, pencils, and pens. They also got assistance with their school fees, a relief to many of the parents who had difficulties finding the money for the tuition fee.

As Richards, a product of the reputed volatile Greenvale community, explained: "We started this (treat) six years ago as a means of heeding the needs of the community. We always had an annual bingo party and a back-to-school event in December, where we give books and pencils.

He added, "The request for assistance doubled this year, and the crowd at the treat is the biggest that we have had."

Richards and his team assisted the children with buying some of the textbooks on their respective book lists. They also gave bank vouchers to assist with the children's school fees.

At the back-to-school treat, there was an exciting entertainment segment hosted by the comical character, Granny. Children from the community were able to win prizes by means of a spelling competition.

Richards was pleased about his company being able to give back to the community. "It is a great feeling. We have to give God thanks," he said. "Despite the challenges, every year, we are able to find something. Even this year, it was looking kind of dim. However, we were able to do it with the help of God. And the request that we got from the parents, we were able to fill all of them."

The event saw Wendy Freckleton, president of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce in attendance, along with her husband Tony, chairman of the South Coast Resort Board.

"We are heartened by what Richards and the Rican team have been doing over the years," Freckleton said. "They have really bent over backwards in order to assist these needy people in the Greenvale community, and we applaud them for that."

Richards grew up in Greenvale and migrated overseas as a teenager. He disclosed that while living in Canada, he was tempted to embark on a negative path of crime but made a U-turn and got himself a solid education instead. He returned to Jamaica and started Rican Construction in his home community, where it provides employment.