WATCH ABOVE: Global’s Ray Bradshaw was at Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank as they handed out backpacks filled with school supplies to families in need.
HALIFAX – Students are heading back to school this week, and as many parents know, it’s an expensive time of year. Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank helps families in need by handing out backpacks filled with school supplies.
People waited outside the Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank – some of them for hours – for their number to be called to get backpacks filled with school supplies. Ten days ago, the organization had just over 100 backpacks available, but that changed.
“We have about 500 backpacks filled. We’re still filling them. We have about 767 applicants,” said Cynthia Louis, the Client Service Coordinator at the facility. “The response from our community has been very overwhelming. Everyone really came through. People are donating school supplies, and backpacks filled with school supplies, and also monetary donations.”
Those funds will be used to purchase more school supplies. Clients pre-registered, and all the backpacks were filled according to grade. Megan O’Connell is entering grade three, and said she couldn’t wait to check out her new supplies. “Wow,” she said as she took out her first item. “A calculator.”
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Kathleen Lethbridge was picking up a backpack for her 7-year-old son. She said the school supplies would help her “a lot.” and said Parker Street does a good job helping the community. “They’re a really good help for everything. School supplies are expensive and they ask for not only one of everything, but three of everything, so for me to come down here, this saves me a whole ton of money which can go to his school lunches.”
Chancel Vi Tshimanga, a grade 9 student, arrived in Canada from Congo six years ago. She said the backpacks are a great support. “It’s really helpful, especially for my parents,” said Tshimanga. “Instead of buying everything, they give us pretty much all the supplies that we need and we’re really grateful for that.”
This operation would not go smoothly without the help of the volunteers, like Freddeja Oliver. She’s entering Saint Mary’s University, and wants to give back. “You see the smile on little kids faces when you hand them the bag sometimes. And then it’s like ‘oh my god it’s pink’ it’s like ah,” said Oliver. “It’s so cute to just help the community because they helped me before.”
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