Fort Macleod Family and Community Support Services director Amanda Lawrence and summer program co-ordinators Sheridan George and Lydia Nelson with some of the free school supplies that will be distributed this week through Back to School Connect at the arena.
A popular program that provides free school supplies and clothing to Fort Macleod families returns this week.
Back to School Connect runs Wednesday, Aug. 17 from 1:30-7:30 p.m. and Thursday, Aug. 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Fort Macleod and District Sports Centre.
“The philosophy of Back to School Connect is to support every student in Fort Macleod to feel as though they have equal opportunity to have all the required supplies, as they return to the classroom,” explained FCSS director Amanda Lawrence. “Often, teachers will fill in gaps of missing supplies and FCSS wants to help alleviate some of those extra costs.
“Clothes are also expensive to buy brand new, so this is an opportunity for families to stop and pick up some new-to-them items. We have had many donations from the community for all ages, styles, and sizes to sort through.”
During Back to School Connect, families will be given lined paper, work booklets, markers, crayons, pencil crayons, pens, pencils, some lunch kits, erasers, sharpeners, highlighters, post it notes, Sharpies, whiteboard markers, glue sticks/white glue and scissors.
“We will also have limited number school size snacks to help families with lunches and we will provide one Kleenex box per student to take to school,” Lawrence said.
Back to School Connect was originally held at the Fort Macleod and District Community Hall and moved to the arena as popularity grew and crowds increased.
The past two years people picked up supplies at the FCSS office in the G.R. Davis Administration Building due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on the size of public gatherings.
This year, as the event moves back to the arena, organizers anticipate the demand for the supplies Back to School Connect provides will increase due to the economic situation.
“We anticipate there may be more families who will benefit from Back to School Connect this year, as the price of everything is going up,” Lawrence said. “Although we are unable to provide all supplies for each child, we hope families can pop over in these couple days and pick up some items to help them get started or finish their supplies.”
FCSS has the support of several partners and community members in staging the 2022 Back to School Connect.
The Salvation Army was able to provide 200 backpacks and donations came from Nutrien Ag and Structural Truss, as well as individual community members.
“We would love to continue to partner with others over the next year, so that we can continue this well utilized and important project,” Lawrence said.
The community also donated a great volume of gently used clothing for the free clothing exchange.
Although Back to School Connect kicks off today, FCSS is still accepting donations of gently used clothing. Donations can be dropped off at the office.
