The Cost of School Supplies Could Hit Some Families Hard
Backpack. Pencils. Laptop. Notebooks. Calculator.
Back-to-school supply lists are exciting for students, but they might bring on anxiety for some parents. The back-to-school shopping season can uncover a new set of challenges for families who are struggling to make ends meet. That’s because right before school starts, in the heat of the summer, family budgets are stretched to the max. Between higher electricity bills and buying more food, there’s not much room left to prepare for going back to school.
Single mom Katrina has to constantly juggle her small paycheck to try and provide for her family.
“It’s very hard. I make those decisions every day. But if you don’t have that money flowing in, how are you going to be able to do it?” she said.
Kim is a full-time hair stylist with two kids. Her income depends on other people having money to spend on a haircut. And if they don’t, she is in a bind.
“I’m trying to make sure that I keep up with the bills and all of the household needs. My daughter is in school, and I have a two-year-old who needs diapers. So, that’s been a struggle for me,” Kim said.
Now with the 2023-2024 school year here, families like Kim’s and Katrina’s could face significant hardships, considering the cost of school supplies. According to the National Retail Federation, families were expected to spend an average of $875 per household on school supplies.
It shouldn’t be a privilege to have all the school supplies needed, and that’s why Feed the Children is here to help. Two programs in the U.S. focus on the needs of students – Food & Essentials Hubs and Backpack-n-Go. Both programs provide school supplies, books and food to those who need it the most. These resources help kids succeed in the classroom while increasing their chances of breaking the cycle of poverty.
All kids deserve to walk into school on the first day with the confidence and the tools they need to thrive. You can make a difference this back-to-school season when you partner with Feed the Children. When you give, children and families receive food and essentials like hygiene items and cleaning supplies, which are not covered by SNAP benefits. This will free up their budget to buy the necessary supplies to go back to school. Help children succeed this school year!
