As store shelves are trading in summerwear for school supply fare, parents will soon be checking lists and filling carts with the must-haves for the 2019/20 school year.
For some families in Cochrane, it's a costly time of year. Compounded with September school fees, new clothes and sport/club dues, families find themselves bargain hunting and perhaps seeking out additional supports to set their students off with a full toolkit.
In comes Cochrane Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) to help families in need through the annual Backpack Program, which helps provide school supplies for some 200 local students each year.
"We are entirely dependent upon community donations for this program. We have been fortunate to have been well supported by residents, local business owners and service clubs in the past and are hopeful that we will continue to have their support this year," said Annemarie Tocher, resource centre coordinator with FCSS.
Tocher said donations directly to FCSS are encouraged, although Staples is also accepting cash donations to support the program.
While in previous years FCSS has gathered school supplies, the program switched to gift cards last year – as savvy moms can find additional savings with cash over supplies that may result in duplicates or some unnecessary items; as such, the program no longer accepts donations of school supplies or backpacks.
The decision to no longer accept supplies was twofold – to avoid waste in providing families with unnecessary supplies, as well as limited space to coordinate housing hundreds of backpacks and an assembly line of supplies to fill them.
"We can't really manage stuffing 200 backpacks," said Tocher, with reference to the crowded FCSS office located on the main floor of the HomeStead Building downtown.
Since 2009, FCSS has been running the program to help low-income families. Applications will be accepted from Aug. 15 to Sept. 13 this year. Applicants are asked to provide proof of GST return, AISH or Alberta Works support. Those in extenuating circumstances who do not have proof of these subsidies will be assigned to a resource worker to apply.
Those looking to learn more should contact the Resource Centre at 403-851-2250.
