MyCityCare Okotoks is hoping those in the Foothills will ‘Stuff the Bus’ in order to send kids back to school with backpacks filled with the necessary supplies.
The non-profit's summer initiative aims to collect school supplies to be distributed to students in families experiencing financial pressures at this time of year.
“We obviously haven't reached our numbers from last year yet, but we are expecting a projected increase this year,” said Lorna Jewer, director of MyCityCare Okotoks. “Currently we've got over 400 registered and our backpack distribution day isn't until the end of August.”
Jewer said the program handed out over 500 backpacks last year.
Stuff the Bus collects supplies, everything from binders and geometry sets to pencils and glue sticks, for students in pre-kindergarten all the way up to Grade 12.
“We prefer to have new school supplies and backpacks because it's just another way of restoring dignity to our community,” said Jewer. “It just starts the year off on the right foot.”
Donations of school supplies will be accepted at the following locations until Aug. 19: Staples, Built Strong Evolution, Dominos Okotoks, McFarlane Agencies (1967) Ltd., Loop Kids Okotoks, Main Street Market Okotoks, Thrive Chiropractic, Okotoks Karate, MCG Careers, Foothills Cleaners Okotoks, Pure Envy Salon & Spa and Dynamic Physiotherapy.
MyCityCare Okotoks is also accepting cash donations at http://bit.ly/givemccoko. It orders so much that it receives bulk discounts on items, allowing it to stretch dollars that are donated.
Families anywhere in the Foothills are eligible to register for a backpack at https://mycitycareoko.churchcenter.com/people/forms/747909.
Volunteers interested in helping out at a backpack packing day on Aug. 20 can reach out via http://bit.ly/mccokogetinvolved.
Jewer is grateful for all the support the Stuff the Bus campaign receives each year and said the organization endeavours to provide students with as many of the supplies as possible.
“We try our best to at least have some of those items provided,” she said. “They might not get the full total, but we do our best to fill the list. It's based on donations; whatever we get, we give.”
