Family Community Support Services and Staples are once again teaming up to help some school aged kids get off to school with their best foot forward.

Annemarie Tocher, Resource Center Coordinator, says the Back Pack Program has been well supported by the community for the past 8 years. "We have been very fortunate in our community, I have been involved with the program for four years and I have always been astounded by the generosity of our community. This program has been completely supported by community dollars we have not had to fund raise outside of that and that speaks volumes to the kind of community we live in."

Tocher, shares they are anticipating a need for at least 200 to 240 back packs. In 2015, the program supplied 185 students with supplies all the way up to 215 in 2016; with a growing population and lagging economy, Tocher anticipates they will see another increase. "We as an agency have been impacted by the continuous growth in our population so the demand for our services have continuously increased over the last few years. In addition, we originally saw the immediate impact of the economic downturn and now after a couple years the longer term effects. We are seeing people having their savings depleted, those people that haven't gotten back to work are facing financial stresses they have never had to face before."

While supplies are welcomed, monetary donations can be maximized for the office to bulk buy. It costs roughly $60 for back pack and supplies. Tocher suggests if you prefer to buy actual supplies to check out the school supply lists online. "Choose an age or grade of a student and provide supplies accordingly, that would be the most efficient way from our perspective, then we have a fully ready-to-go back pack potentially; but anything people like to give is welcome." 

If people would like to register for the program they are encouraged to do so now (before school starts)  and up until around the 8th of September. For new applicants there will be some qualifying parameters set up and registrants are invited to drop by the homestead building to discuss what their need is. 

Donations are currently being accepted at Staples or Family Community Support Services at the Homestead building.