The upcoming school year is right around the corner and a popular school supplies program in the Edmonton area is struggling to keep up with demand not seen in more than two decades.
The United Way’s Tools for School program is on pace to hand out back-to-school supply kits to 15,000 students this year. That’s up from the 12,400 kits the program distributed in 2015.
“To put into perspective, we’ve already built 13,000 backpacks for kids locally and we’re out of supplies already with more need and more demand coming in,” Sara Klapstein, marketing advisor with the United Way, said.
“Over 23 years the need has grown and grown and grown. We’ve seen that increase build year after year.”
READ MORE: How families struggling with cost of back-to-school supplies and fees can save
Adding to the demand this year, was the impact on kids during the Fort McMurray wildfire. Tools for School provided school supplies to nearly 1,500 Fort McMurray area kids so they could finish the school year.
Tools for School provides backpacks filled with school supplies to students in need from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Volunteers pack the bags, which are then handed out to thousands of kids in 30 communities throughout the Capital Region.
“Without the volunteers we would be unable to keep up with the increasing demand for backpacks,” Jenn Dermott, Tools for Schools program coordinator, said. “In order to meet the greater demand, we rely on donations and volunteers.”
READ MORE: Canada Child Benefit expected to boost back-to-school spending
This is Tools for School’s 23rd year in operation.
New school supplies are still needed and can be dropped off at any Staples location in the Capital Region. Cash donations are accepted online.
Comments