Staples and the Salvation Army are again teaming up to make back to school less stressful for families facing financial difficulties.
This year marks the fifth year of a partnership that helps get school supplies into the hands of children who otherwise would be showing up to classes with an empty backpack.
Between Aug. 9 to Sept. 6, the Staples Business Depot in the Swift Current Mall will be accepting cash donations as well as being a drop off point for donated supplies.
Sharleen Thoreson, Manager of Staples in Swift Current, admitted this fifth annual campaign is a nice way to help out in the community.
“Especially this year,” Thoreson said. “We’ve noticed that people are really watching this year, just with the crop situation and the rain, they’re really trying to stretch their dollars.”
She highlighted that they’ve already seen shoppers helping their neighbours and friends by helping buy back to school classroom supplies.
Elizabeth Laverdiere, summer student at the Salvation Army, hopes that families sign up quickly for the program.
“We’re encouraging people to be registered by Aug. 20, at the Salvation Army so they can get the supplies they need,” Laverdiere said. “But if people need to come in after we’ll be able to take in more people.”
The Salvation Army coordinates the distribution of the donations, putting together grade appropriate backpacks filled with the necessary supplies for back to school.
So far, they have had 20 registrations, and by the end of the program they anticipate being able to assist between 50 to 60 students.
Project organizers are hoping to build awareness for the program at a time when some families are just starting back to school shopping, and for families on a tight budget these purchases are sometimes out of reach.
“So far we’ve done really good. We’ve had a really good response,” Laverdiere said.
