Last year Cochrane's Family and Community Support Services (FCSS), Backpack Program helped 120 kids with purchasing school supplies. The program has been operating since 2009, but it has seen some changes over the years. The program used to provide actual backpacks filled with the supplies, but due to the growing demand and lack of space, the program went to providing gift cards for eligible families. FCSS has teamed up with Staples to provide the help that Cochrane families need with school supplies in trying times.

September and the return to school can be a financially taxing month and once again the added element of a pandemic only makes the situation worse. There is no doubt the Backpack Program will be needed more than ever in 2020.

In the year of COVID 19 nothing is normal and even the Backpack Program has been somewhat affected. Melissa Engdahl, Community Resource Worker with FCSS says, “This year it’s been kind of up in the air just not knowing who’s going back to school, even waiting for the announcement of what that would like. So, we quickly connected with Staples once we knew that the children would be going back to school.” Eleven percent of the students in RVS are choosing online learning and Engalhd says, “There is no requirement either way, if you need school supplies, you need school supplies whether you are at home or whether you are physically attending at a school.”

Families in need of support will need to contact FCSS for eligibility requirements and gift cards will be distributed based on criteria. "We use the same criteria as the school’s use for transit subsidy or fees subsidy,” explains Engdahl.  People will need to provide a copy of their GST return or proof of income. Engdahl adds that they realize that people’s financial situation at the present, may not be reflected on last year’s return and if that is the case, you just need to contact a support worker at FCSS.

For those that would like to donate to the program, you can do so directly at the Staples or you can go into Cochrane FCSS. They would be more than happy to accept what Cochranite’s are able to give. You can rest assured that the kids will appreciate a backpack full of precious supplies to start off the school year that will be like no other.

Click here to go FCSS website.