Backpack Backlash Turns Into $47K Boost for School Drive

We begin tonight with a story that’s taken some unexpected turns. What started as a simple back-to-school initiative by Superintendent Aaron Gamboa quickly turned into a public controversy involving A&R Enterprises. But it’s a turn of events no one saw coming. Thanks to a surprising partnership and a helping hand from Car Guys owner Said Perdomo, A&R has stepped up in a big way. Today, they delivered forty-seven thousand dollars’ worth of school bags and supplies, including JanSport and Everest, for Gamboa to continue his distribution drive.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Forty-seven thousand dollars in school bags and school supplies. That is what A & R Enterprises Limited delivered to Said Perdomo’s Car Guys compound this afternoon, and Superintendent Aaron Gamboa was on hand to receive items.

 

Supt. Aaron Gamboa, Good Samaritan

“I want to give God the glory first. That is the first thing. It started with some good friends with a hundred bags issuing in the Martins Area and like God saw I was doing good, and it make it turn out to a thousand more. It reminds me of the loafs with Jesus. He had five loaves of bread, and he fed thousands of people, this is a story just like that.”

 

Thanks to generous donations from Car Guys Belize, Vins Liquors, and other kind-hearted supporters, Said Perdomo managed to raise sixteen thousand dollars for the school supply drive. But A&R didn’t just match that amount, they nearly doubled their contribution. That’s a major boost for students and families gearing up for the new school year.

 

Supt. Aaron Gamboa

“When Said that something came on the media about fake bag and what I was doing, he know me and communicate with me and said he need to put something on the table to help the young youths. So, when Said put certain things on social media, by a couple of hours it turns around and by the next day everything just blow up by the good people that saw that we need help and ih come through.”

 

This good deed was birthed out of heavy public backlash after an A&R representative spoke out against the flood of fake JanSport bags on the local market. As the authorized dealer of the bags, A&R sought to defend their brand, but what social media users saw was an attack on Gamboa and his philanthropy. The company later issued an apology, stating that its intent was never to discredit the good work of leaders, police officers, and organizations.

 

Supt. Aaron Gamboa

“Dah the people voice, they were not happy about how they dealt with it. I was looking out for people in the Southside. It shows that when you deal with people you have to be careful of what you say. I believe the owner of A&R send me a text message, but I need to see him one and one to apologize. I have to move on and forgive what I need to forgive and move on.”

 

Aquity BPO jumped in to match the initial sixteen thousand dollars. That money will be spent at Angelus Press Limited on bags and school supplies.  And Angelus Press added even more, donating thirteen thousand dollars in supplies. What started as Backpack-gate has turned into a wave of generosity.

 

Supt. Aaron Gamboa

“This big, I feel good. The way I feel right now this is not for me. This is for the young youths out there that don’t have it like that and need help. I get thousands of call and I don’t sleep day and night and the people they need it because I am on the ground and I know what they want and need. I know it and feel it.”

 

Gamboa and his family are spearheading the distribution of the bags and school supplies. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.