The cost of sending kids back to school is going up, along with everything else.
New research (Field Agent Canada) shows Canadian families will spend 11.7 percent more on back-to-school essentials this year.
Alexis Sapera, Chair of the Board of Directors at the Renfrew County Community Poverty Action Network, says local families are struggling to keep up.
CPAN is trying to help with that. Sapera says their Tools For School program expects to help 700 families with the cost of a new school year.
She says thanks to money raised by local Tim Horton’s Smile Cookie campaigns, they’re able to increase the amount of money they’re spending on each family.
Families who need help can apply for the gift card through CPAN’s website, which is being re-launched later this week.
The Renfrew County Community Poverty Action Network was recently reorganized and is now run solely by volunteers, a move that Sapera says was necessary in the light of rising demand and lower donations.
They are still looking for volunteers to help out with their various programs, as well as in administration.
(Written by: Cindy Clyne)
