A local organization is looking for the Lethbridge community’s help to help send students to school ready to learn by filling about 1,700 backpacks with school supplies before the new school year.
Tanya Lister, site director for My City Care in Lethbridge, said this year donations are coming in slower than expected and the the organization still needs supplies for hundreds of backpacks and is relying on community support to meet its goal.
“Donations are definitely slower to come in this year,” Lister said. “We still have probably about 900 or so backpacks that need to be packed and we are just needing the community’s help for getting the supplies for these to make sure that we’re able to honour that commitment to these families.”
Each year, My City Care partners with Ready, Set, Go! to provide students with backpacks containing essential school supplies before the start of the school year.
Lister said the program helps reduce back-to-school expenses for families facing higher living costs.
“Filling those school supply lists can actually cost a lot of money per child to get that done,” she said. “And if you have, again, multiple children, it really just adds up.”
Donors are encouraged to contribute new school supplies such as binders, coil notebooks, pens, pencils, pencil cases, glue sticks, erasers, highlighters and markers.
Donations may be dropped off at the My City Care office, participating partner locations and businesses hosting collection boxes. Information about drop-off locations is available through My City Care’s social media channels.
Lister said financial donations are also welcome, with sponsorship opportunities available for businesses, families and community groups.
The number of backpacks needed this year is similar to last year’s total, but Lister said registration remains open and the final number could increase.
“The last couple of years our programs have experienced a large amount of growth, and so we’re kind of never quite sure what to expect,” she said.
The organization also welcomes donations of higher-value items that are often beyond many families’ budgets. Lister said used scientific calculators in good working condition will be distributed to students who need them.
Lister said the goal is to ensure students have the supplies they need to begin the school year prepared.
“We don’t want any kids to, you know, or parents to be struggling through that space.”
Donations will continue through the end of August, but My City Care is encouraging residents to contribute by Aug. 17 so volunteers can prepare backpacks for distribution.
