BRACEBRIDGE, ON – Every kid deserves to go back to school with all the tools needed to flourish regardless of the financial situation their families are in.
Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions is holding its first-ever Stuff the Bus in Bracebridge Sunday, August 11.
Melanie McLearon is the director of communications with the organization. She said the goal is to help 200 families afford back to school supplies.
“We wanted to bring more attention to the fact that, although we get a lot of support around the holidays, we find families need help throughout the year,” McLearon said. “Specifically during back-to-school, families are trying to figure out where to shop.”
McLearon said the goal is to send students to school on the right foot. The supply drive will be taking place at the Staples in Bracebridge.
McLearon added that anyone looking to help out doesn’t have to shop at the staples or even donate items.
“We are a charity so we will accept cash donations on the day off,” McLearon said. “We also have an online donation portal. We find some businesses prefer to just give a monetary donation and we would love to sit and chat with them to make it happen.”
When it comes to what items the group does need, McLearon said people often forget about highschool supplies. According to the director, everyone thinks of pencils, pens and erasers, but scientific calculators and binders have big price tags and often get forgotten about.
McLearon said she has seen these events be very successful in the past and filling the school bus would make it a big victory.
“We would love that,” McLearon said. “We have 200 families we want to help in the Muskoka area, so that’s a lot of backpacks.”
The event starts at 10 a.m. and will run until 4 p.m.