Charities in Northeastern Ontario have been working to address the growing need for back-to-school help as more people need help and donations have been drying up. Recently, the residents and staff at Pathways Retirement Residence stuffed 50 backpacks with school supplies for the United Way of Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma District’s Backpacks for Success Program.
The goal of this program is to address the root causes of poverty and ensure children have the resources they need to start the school year prepared. With the rising cost of living making it harder for parents to afford essentials, the program aims to relieve some of that burden.
Last month, residents at Pathways Retirement Residence in Sault Ste. Marie rallied together to raise funds and gather donations, managing to fill 50 backpacks—doubling their contribution from the previous year. Many residents, reflecting on their own challenges as parents, were eager to get involved. Family members pitched in by shopping for supplies, spending about $50 per backpack.
The United Way of Sault Ste. Marie’s Backpacks for Success program has grown significantly since its inception last year, when it provided 105 backpacks. This year, they distributed 305 backpacks to school boards and community partners, including Pauline’s Place and the Indigenous Friendship Centre. However, executive director Lori Huston noted that the demand for supplies has also increased.
Local school boards provide the United Way with estimates of how many backpacks are needed, and those numbers continue to rise. In Sudbury, the charity Our Children Our Future has teamed up with Golf Marathon Sudbury to supply 100 children with backpacks that include indoor running shoes. “These gifts ensure that children from low-income families can participate in physical education classes and school sports,” says Lynne Ethier, the manager of fundraising and community engagement.
The smiles and positive feedback from children receiving these backpacks are heartwarming, as they are excited to begin the school year with brand-new supplies.
Source: CBC
