Join the Excitement: GoodHeart’s UniCycle 8th Annual Back-to-School Drive is Now Live!

UniCycle Jamaica is back with its annual summer drive, aimed at helping students get ready for school. This initiative, led by Rhys and Maria Greenland, collects gently used school uniforms and PE gear. This year, they’ve teamed up with Come Mek Wi Dance to also gather dancewear for schools across the island.

Last year, after Hurricane Beryl hit, the team organized fundraising events and an Amazon wishlist drive. This effort raised nearly $300,000 worth of school supplies, alongside numerous uniforms and sports gear given to families affected by the storm. “We’re excited to plan another event this summer,” Rhys said.

You can drop off donations at Fontana Pharmacy locations throughout Jamaica and at Campion College. “Fontana and local stores like Ammar’s and Joseph’s have been amazing in their support,” Maria shared. They are also collaborating with the National Education Trust (NET) to create containers for Guidance Units, hoping to streamline clothing drives and make them a regular part of school life.

The UniCycle drive kicks off during Campion College’s Zero Waste Week, organized by the environmental club, Green Generation. This week raises awareness about reducing waste and embracing the circular economy. Activities include Meatless Mondays, where vegetarian recipes are shared, and Tee-Totes Tuesdays, focusing on upcycling old T-shirts into tote bags. “One day, we hope Jamaica will have a national Zero Waste Week with even more participation from schools and organizations,” Rhys said.

Maria added some striking facts about the fashion industry’s environmental toll. It generates huge amounts of plastic waste. Many clothes, made from synthetic materials like polyester, release microplastics when washed. These tiny particles can find their way into our rivers and oceans. Moreover, clothing can take anywhere from a few months to hundreds of years to decompose, depending on the material.

The push for textile recycling is not just about helping families; it directly addresses a major environmental issue. In light of a recent survey by the Fashion Institute of Technology, about 85% of textiles end up in landfills each year in the U.S. alone. With efforts like UniCycle Jamaica, we can start to change those numbers.

For more information, you can reach out via email at unicyclejamaica@gmail.com or check their Instagram @unicyclejamaica and @comemekwidance.



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