A $20 donation can do wonders for a child going back to school this September, and as kids gear up to hit the books, St. Catharines-Thorold Community Care is helping to give them the supplies they need to start off the school year with a smile.
It's not easy for all families to provide the necessities that come along with a new school year and that's why Community Care works throughout the summer collecting supplies, schools bags, snacks, stationary, sneakers and monetary donations.
Financially, the cost of back-to-school products adds up, but CEO of Community Care, Betty-Lou Souter, believes kids should be filled with positive self-esteem when returning to school for the year, and Snack 'n' Sneakers, Community Care's back to school program, helps make that possible.
Throughout the last few weeks Community Care has worked within the community to collect donations, so on August 29 when it opens its doors to registered clients, kids get what they need to head back to school, ready to learn.
Snacks 'n' Sneakers has been running in the area for the last few years and the initiative behind the program is to help as many children as possible. "We firmly believe every child should put their best foot forward when starting school," Souter said.
On Monday, clients will have the opportunity to visit Thorold's Community Care on Albert St. West to load up on back to school products; everything will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis, based on supply and demand.
But the only reason the program succeeds every year is from the help of supporters and businesses in the community who lend a helping hand.
Souter said Community Care relies on donations in the community; $20 supplies a new pair of sneakers and snacks while $50 cash donations can offset the cost of snacks, sneakers and a backpack filled with supplies like coloured pencils, pens, binders and markers.
Souter added the cost of sneakers adds up quick, especially with the new mandate in most schools that require students to have at least two pairs of shoes—a pair for indoors and a pair for outdoors.
Healthy snacks are an important part of the program in getting the kids to start off a new year with healthy and nutritious habits. Community Care supplies snacks like pudding and fruit cups, granola bars and cheese and cracker snack packs. But with peanut allergies on the rise, all food products exclude any trace of peanuts.
Community Care in Thorold aims to help as many families as it possibly can this September. "We can help upwards of 50 clients which is just the tip of the iceberg," Souter said.
Though the program will come to a wrap-up on Monday, Community Care will continue accepting donations for back-to-school items. "As much support as we get in we crank it back out; it's really a community-driven program."
The reason the program is important, according to Souter and staff at Community Care, is because it helps children get back to school on an "equal footing". "Kids can be very judgmental towards their peers and this program helps by boosting self-esteem in children."
She said there is nothing like seeing the smiles on the children's faces when they come in to pick out a new pair of sneakers.
Souter said the need for backpacks at this time of year is high, but the United Way has been a large help with providing donations. Community Care will host Snacks 'n' Sneakers for registered clients from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, August 29.