Halifax Community and Family Services distributes school supplies to children in need
Some children show off their new backpacks at Halifax Community and Family Services during its back-to-school supply distribution. Pictured with the children is Major Brenda Bungay (back row, extreme right), Halifax CFS Director, and Linda Elliott (back row, middle), a volunteer that spearheads fundraising for the program.
Families applied in advance to receive a backpack for any child from primary to Grade 6. Major Brenda Bungay, director of Halifax Community and Family Services, says that while there is always a need for school supplies, today’s event helps equip many children with the tools they will need to start the school year right.
“This year we really focused on quality and quantity,” she says. “We wanted to make sure that each child will have enough. They can take this backpack and go right to school with it. It doesn’t look like there’s much if anything they would need to purchase.”
The back to school program at Halifax Community and Family Services is made possible by the work of volunteer Linda Elliott. Ms. Elliott launched the program herself six years ago and partnered with The Salvation Army three years ago. The amount of funds raised determines how many backpacks are available.
“It’s a lot of repeat donors now,” Ms. Elliott says, adding that her co-workers at Investors Group have helped from the start. “I have a lot of colleagues that know every year I’m going to be asking again. Family, friends and some businesses are also onboard. “
Major Bungay adds: “If it wasn’t for Linda and what she does to help raise funds, this program would have to come out of the CFS budget, and we don’t have the funds for that. It’s a bonus to have somebody from outside doing the fundraising. “
The event has grown from 12 backpacks in its first year, to 100 this year. Ms. Elliott has no intention of stopping now.
“I see it getting even bigger,” she says. “We’d love to take it to 150, 180, 200 kids. If we had the funds, we could do a really big event.
“While we can’t help families with enough stuff to take them through the entire year, there is enough stuff to get them started, so that every kid is on the same playing field.”
To save on shipping costs, this year all of the supplies were bought locally, with nearby Staples and Walmart locations doing their part to help out.
Ms. Elliott says that the rising price of supplies makes it a costly venture, citing backpacks as the biggest expense. Donations for the back to school program are accepted year-round. Interested donors can contact Community and Family Services Halifax at (902) 422-1598.
Click here to visit our Flickr page and check out a gallery of photos from the event.
