The Caring and Sharing Exchange is issuing an urgent appeal for donations to help provide students in need with a backpack and school supplies this September. About 2,000 children are currently registered on its waitlist for the backpack, which is filled with grade-appropriate supplies. “We’re getting to a point now where we really need to rally to the community to make up this shortfall that we have,” said Matthew Mitchell, executive director of the Caring and Sharing Exchange. He said the rising cost of living has increased demand over the last several years. Dozens of volunteers spent Tuesday morning filling backpacks with donated supplies at the Carlingwood Shopping Centre. “There’s a big expectation in the classroom and it can be really hard to have everything that they need so, it’s important that things like this are made available so that kids have access to the things that they need to be successful for a good school year,” said parent and volunteer Cheryl Given, who has also noticed the cost of everything increasing. “It goes up and I feel like there’s always more and more things that we need to purchase for the kids every year,” she said. “This is our first year with two kids going to school, so you know, four pairs of shoes because you need one indoor, one outdoor per kid, and then just everything else needed, as well as school bags, lunch boxes, new lunch kits, everything.” A recent survey by the Retail Council of Canada found the average Canadian household will spend $600 to $750 per child, including electronics, on back-to-school shopping. The Caring and Sharing Exchange said most-needed items include backpacks, notebooks and scientific calculators but cash donations can be stretched further. It said a $60 donation equips one child with a backpack and school supplies. The organization is also accepting donations of new supplies at its “Stuff the Bus” event on Aug. 20 at the Carlingwood Shopping Centre from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
