Back to school is a difficult time for low-income families and Sun Youth is here again distributing school supplies to take off some of the financial pressure.
Many depend on this help: this year, parents will have to pay around $150 per child for school supplies, depending on their school and grade, and that is not counting textbooks and other materials they will have to purchase from the school.
This is well above the $121 allocation offered by the provincial government, and in a context of inflation where the cost of food has increased by 21.9% in three years, and housing by 6% in one year, this can be a significant financial stress.
(source, The Daily — Consumer Price Index, June 2024 (statcan.gc.ca))
An essential solution for schools
It is not only families who rely on Sun Youth for help: schools also call on the organization’s support for the whole school year.
Sun Youth donates supplies to schools in its district. So, if a child needs a new notebook, binder, or ruler, during the year, their teacher can supply it free of charge from the donated stock.
“Belonging is so important to a kid’s self-esteem, and having backpacks just like the other children changes their whole attitude towards school. This in turn increases their chances of academic success.”
-Francine Goyette, Assistant-Director at La mosaïque Elementary School.
A huge thank you to all the wonderful volunteers and donors who helped during the distribution.
More than a thousand kids will have started the school year on a good note thanks to your help!
