Each One Reach One Back to School Campaign
The Gina Spence Program is inviting the community to sponsor children through its Each One Reach One Back to School Campaign, helping provide essential school supplies and support for young people facing grief and financial hardship ahead of the new school year.
A spokesperson said, “As Bermuda prepares for another school year, the Gina Spence Program [GSP] is inviting the community to do more than purchase school supplies. It is calling on Bermuda to invest in children carrying some of life’s greatest challenges before they ever step into a classroom. For $150, you can sponsor one child through the Each One Reach One Back to School Campaign, helping provide the essential school items they need to begin the school year with dignity, confidence, and hope. Online donations are now open and will remain open through Saturday, August 22, with every dollar helping another child start school prepared to succeed.
“While many associate grief with the death of a loved one, the reality for Bermuda’s children is far more complex. Loss may come through family separation, divorce, incarceration, unemployment, financial hardship, housing instability, homelessness, violence, community trauma, road fatalities, or other significant life changes. These experiences often affect a child’s confidence, emotional wellbeing, concentration, attendance, relationships, and ability to learn long before anyone recognizes they are grieving.
“The need continues to grow. In 2024, Bermuda recorded 85 divorces. In 2025, 1,331 people were identified as experiencing homelessness, an increase from the previous year. Over the past decade, Bermuda has experienced 127 road traffic fatalities, while the Gina Spence Program has supported more than 100 children following the loss of a parent to gun or gang related homicide. Behind every statistic is a child trying to navigate life while preparing for a new school year.
“For more than a decade, GSP’s Each One Reach One Back to School Campaign has ensured that these invisible burdens are not made heavier by the inability to afford school essentials. To date, the campaign has supported more than 12,000 children across Bermuda, providing more than 1,000 backpacks, 700 First Day Starter Kits, and 2,000 pieces of school clothing. Each year, this impact continues to grow through the generosity of Bermuda’s community and the steadfast partnership of Gibbons Company, now celebrating fourteen years of supporting the campaign.”
“Every September, children walk into classrooms carrying backpacks, but many are also carrying grief, uncertainty, financial hardship, and life experience no child should have to bear alone,” said Dr. Gina Spence Virgil, Founder and Advanced Grief Recovery Specialist of GSP. “Each One Reach One is about far more than school supplies. It is about restoring dignity, building confidence, and letting every child know they are seen, valued, and supported. We are inviting every person in Bermuda to help us make that possible.
Shawn Talbot, Marketing & Ecommerce Manager, of Gibbons Company, said: “At Gibbons Company, we believe that strong communities are built by investing in people, and there is no greater investment than our children. That is why it is an honor to stand alongside the Gina Spence Program as we proudly support the Each One Reach One campaign for the 14th consecutive year. Every child deserves to walk into the classroom with confidence, and a sense of belonging.
“By helping provide school uniforms and essential back-to-school items, this campaign removes barriers for families while reminding our young people that their community believes in them. When we come together to support a child, we strengthen the future of Bermuda. For more than a decade, we have witnessed firsthand the incredible impact this initiative has had on families across our island. It is a powerful reminder that meaningful change happens when businesses, charities, and members of the community unite behind a common purpose. At Gibbons Company, giving back has always been part of who we are, and we are proud to continue supporting an initiative that reflects the values of compassion, generosity, and community that define Bermuda at its best.
“As we mark this 14-year partnership, we also celebrate the countless volunteers, donors, and supporters who make this campaign possible year after year. Together, we are helping to ensure that every child has the opportunity to begin the school year with confidence and hope. We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Gina Spence and her dedicated team for their unwavering commitment to our community, and we are proud to stand beside them once again. Here’s to 14 years of making a difference together and to many more years of empowering Bermuda’s youth and strengthening the community we call home.”
A spokesperson added, “Families requiring assistance may now apply online. Applications are open and will close on Friday, August 14, 2026, allowing time for assessments before distribution. Online donations will remain open through Saturday, August 22, the day of the annual distribution event.
“Whether you sponsor one child for $150, support multiple children, or make a gift of any amount, your generosity will help ensure that no child impacted by grief and financial hardship begins the school year feeling overlooked or unprepared.
“Together, we can give every child more than a backpack.
“We can give them the confidence to walk through the school gates believing in their future. To sponsor a child or submit an application, visit: www.gspcharity.com Distribution will be to registered families on Saturday, August 22, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the CedarBridge Academy Cafeteria.”
