(Angie Rolheiser/northeastNOW staff)

By Angie Rolheiser

FILL-A-BACKPACK

Northeast organizations collecting school supplies for families in need

Aug 12, 2020 | 1:00 PM

Back to school is on the mind of parents with some wondering how they will afford to buy school supplies along with their everyday essentials.

A number of organizations in the northeast are gathering supplies for those in need ahead of the new school year including the Melfort, Nipawin/Tisdale Salvation Army Stores as well as the Hudson Bay Family and Support Centre.

“Operation Fill-a-backpack” will once again be very important for student success, according to Melfort Salvation Army Captain Jennifer Robins.

“Anyone who even wants to get supplies if you are homeschooling your children, that is still applicable so don’t let that put you off if you are deciding to do schooling at home,” Robins said. “We would still love to provide supplies to make that possible.”

Monetary donations to be put toward supplies and backpacks are also encouraged and are most helpful at this point in time, according to Robins. Financial donation arrangements can be made at the office located in the thrift store in Melfort.

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Supplies needed are things like erasers, pens, glue, glue stick, pencil crayons, markers, scientific calculators, non-coil notebooks, loose leaf, duo-tangs, geometry sets, and backpacks.

New to the application forms for the program this year is having someone that can vouch for applicants which could be a doctor, teacher, social worker, or just another trusted person.

“We aren’t trying to make this difficult but we just want to support people that really need that support because we know it is a difficult time,” Robins said. “We are here to support students despite the global situation.”

The COVID-19 pandemic also has some parents unsure on what the fall will bring.

“The number of applications that have gone out so far is much lower right now and it could be because some things for the fall had not yet been determined until recently by the Northeast School Division,” Robins said.

As such, Melfort has extended their Aug. 10 deadline for applications to into next week.

The same issue is being seen by Sheri Fengstad with the Nipawin and Tisdale Salvation Army program.

“It’s just the kind of year it is with everyone so uncertain with what will be happening when the kids go back to school but they can still apply if they need to and we will figure out what they need,” Fengstad said.

Schools can also refer students once school begins but Fengstad said this program aims to ensure that all kids begin the school year with all of their essentials.

Applications are still being accepted in Nipawin and Tisdale as well. Last year, 117 students in Nipawin received the backpacks and 56 in Tisdale.

The Hudson Bay Family and Support Centre is asking anyone that is wishing to make a donation to call Sandy Bashnick at 306-865-9005 to arrange pick-up or drop off.

“Normally we have bins around town and at the churches but with COVID we didn’t put them out,” Bashnick said.

Applications are due in Hudson Bay by the end of this week to allow for time to prepare the backpacks to be dispersed.

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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser