Local charities helping families get school supplies seeing 'unprecedented' demand
With the start of a new school year now weeks away, local charities say more people are turning to them to help provide school supplies than ever before.
United Way's Tools for School campaign aims to equip young pupils with backpacks full of all the tools they need to succeed in the classroom.
Last year, the organization distributed 12,500 backpacks to more than 300 schools and community agencies throughout the capital region.
To date, the non-profit has received 16,000 requests for backpacks, with many more anticipated — an unprecedented level of demand in the 30 years the campaign has run, Suzie Medhurst, United Way program lead, told CTV News Edmonton.
"It's a combination of factors," Medhurst said. "We are still seeing the effects of the pandemic, the cost of living has gone through the roof, and we're seeing a huge increase in the newcomers coming to Canada."
"If you're having to choose between paying a bill or putting groceries in your fridge or pantry," Medhurst added, "(after getting a backpack), we see a lot of people getting fairly emotional because it means a lot."
Normally, United Way's 10,000 square-foot warehouse is chock full of supplies, Medhurst added.
"It's definitely much emptier this year," she said, adding that the campaign only has enough supplies on hand to build 10,000 backpacks.
The increased need for school supplies is also being felt at the Hope Mission. More than 500 backpacks were handed out last year.
"The way that things are going with more families needing support, we wouldn't be surprised if it was more than that," said Lauren Reid, Hope Mission spokesperson.
"It's heartbreaking to think we might not succeed," Medhurst said. "(But) we are still optimistic we will succeed.
"Our community always steps up."
Both organizations are accepting new school supplies and monetary donations. For more information, visit Tools for Schools and the Hope Mission's websites. To get a backpack, call 211.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.