School is expensive, as every parent knows, and it’s not getting better. Every fall, the lists for school supplies needs filling, and for larger families, it’s a major expense, not to mention packing school lunches every day.
These are only part of the expenses that parents face with school, as there are also school fees, registration costs for whatever sports, clubs or other activities the children are involved in, clothing, and on and on it goes.
Thus, it was a true blessing that many families were helped by the Salvation Army’s recent back-to-school program, which provided school supplies in new backpacks, and even new runners for some children.
Back to school time is expensive for families, particularly when multiple children are affected, and the lists that schools ask to be filled are very long and extensive.
Some schools have gone to the system of providing the supplies, and then sending a bill home to the parents — but this doesn’t assist with the expense a family has to provide for, and for families on a limited income, this can be quite difficult.
To help families out, those who are able are encouraged to give their support to organizations like the Salvation Army, and to programs that reach out to families, such as Souris School’s breakfast program that provides breakfast to children as well as other supports for students.
The Family Place is another resource that helps families out, with such forms of assistance as their clothing closet, and programs like a cooking course where people can prepare large amounts of food for the family.
For families who would like to have their children take part in organized sports, there are groups like KidSport and JumpStart that will provide assistance towards paying registration fees, and sometimes even sports equipment.
Coming up during the fall, there will be campaigns like the FCC’s Drive Away Hunger food drive, and the Weyburn United Way’s Communithon fundraiser in October, which also helps out families.
There are many opportunities for members of the community and for businesses to lend a hand and help out these and other similar organizations, and through them help families who are in need in the community.
A very good example of how this worked was the recent provision of school supplies, where donors like the Weyburn Oil Women and Crescent Point Energy provided supplies as well as a monetary donation to cover off any additional needs there were.
Supports like the Salvation Army and the United Way can only help out as people step up and give to help out, and help ensure that families have what they need for their children to receive a proper education.
