Victoria non-profit sees ‘unprecedented’ surge in demand for school supplies support, calls for more help

A Greater Victoria non-profit that’s equipping 600 students in the region with back-to-school supply kits is trying to meet additional demand for dozens more on a waitlist, after an unprecedented number of requests to The Mustard Seed through an annual campaign.

“It took two weeks to fill 600 spots – and normally that takes a little bit over a month,” says The Mustard Seed’s executive director Treska Watson. “We have about 50-plus kids on the waitlist and that’s heartbreaking for us.”

The Fair Start for Kids program provides students with a box of new school supplies, runners and snacks. The Mustard Seed says it had to close its spring registration process early to make sure staff could deliver on the request from families.

“It has a very good impact financially and emotionally,” says Bernie Manluyang, one of the program’s clients.

The single parent was with her nine-year-old son, Izack, getting a glimpse at his kit at the Queens Avenue centre – opening up a box of supplies that included duo-tangs, scribblers, pencils, markers, and scissors.

“I don’t have to worry. That’s a big, big thing for both of us,” says Manluyang.

The Mustard Seed says one in four of its food bank clients are now children – and the region isn’t alone in the struggle.

“If you look at the province of British Columbia, we see more and more families are struggling,” says United Way BC’s chief program and impact officer, Kim Winchell. “Our unemployment rate is certainly contributing. I think the economy, it’s more expensive. Food is more expensive. Gas is more expensive. Rent and lodging are more expensive. So certainly there’s less disposable income to spend on things.”

In addition to other streams of existing support, Winchell says UWBC will be launching a grant call in the fall for organizations such as The Mustard Seed to apply for funding that can tackle some of the stressors.

“School supplies, after-school programing, things that will help families alleviate the challenges they’re experiencing,” says Winchell.

Fair Start for Kids registrants with The Mustard Seed will get to pick up their back-to-school kits Saturday, Aug. 16 – which also include new shoes and snacks.

The executive director says the team is hoping to have some leftover supplies available for other families on the wait list. The non-profit is also accepting donations through its website.

“There’s always something that can be done at the community level. That’s why we’re always talking to the public and asking for help,” says Watson. “If more donations do come in specifically for this program, we certainly will be able to buy more supplies and help more children, and we can continue to do that through our food bank as well.”