350 Backpacks Ensure Low-Income Students in Northern Ontario are Ready for the School Year

On the first day of school this fall, some 350 backpacks full of goodies will be distributed to eight Kenora area elementary schools, helping students get a good start to the school year. The backpacks will contain a reusable water bottle, thermal lunch kit and other school necessities. For some students this will ensure they have certain required items, and for parents it means that strapped incomes can be stretched a little further.

“Every year we have people looking for school backpacks and supplies because they just can’t financially buy those extra items.”

Sandra Poole, community ministries director for The Salvation Army in Kenora says that the need for school supplies recurs every fall.

“Every year we have people looking for school backpacks and supplies because they just can’t financially buy those extra items,” she says.

Planning for the program began in January when funding was set aside. Sandra collaborated with the area schools to determine what students are most in need of. It was items that many of us take for granted such as our own reusable water bottle.

“As an educator, to see kids come to school not having what they need is really difficult,” says Justin Kakis, school educator. “We’re in a situation where you don’t want to leave parents, guardians, and/or students feeling uncomfortable by overstepping and pointing out that sort of thing.”

For anyone accessing social assistance, discretion is important. Justin states that students and their families don’t want their needs pointed out or spotlighted and that’s why a program distributed by the schools is ideal. The school can identify the need and assist without drawing additional attention.

“It boosts our morale as educators to see that we have students that are fully supplied and ready for the year.”

“When you have an indirect way, like The Salvation Army, coming in and doing those donations, I think it makes it a little easier and boosts our morale as educators to then see that we have students that are fully supplied and ready for the year,” says Justin.

“When you support a Salvation Army backpack program, you encourage the youth of today,” says Sandra. “Child poverty in Northwestern Ontario is high. If we can alleviate even part of that, it takes pressure off the students, parents and teachers.”

By Kristin Marand