The Brookings Family Back2School Project will be providing free school supplies to local families in need during a distribution event on Aug. 7 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Its for all of Brookings County so it includes Sioux Valley, Deubrook, Elkton, some of the private schools sometimes will have a child that will enroll, and then of course Brookings, organizer Jan Stange said. We take those school supplies, set up a store-like setting in Faith Reformed Church, and then when the families come in, the children go with a shopper and using the school supply list, they pick out the supplies that they need and they get to put them in a brand new backpack.
In addition to school supplies, they also distribute personal hygiene items and a voucher for a new pair of shoes. The program is for children enrolled in Junior Kindergarten through 12th Grade who receive free and reduced lunches or economic assistance. Other applicants are also accepted on a case-by-case basis.
I feel for these kids you know. As a parent, I had four children, and I remember going school supply shopping and it was a killer, Stange said. Theres enough that they are going through if they are financially challenged, that we dont want to add to that.
Since being founded in 2008, the program has grown to serve more than twice the original number of children.
At the beginning, someone looked back and said oh, we had about 200 children. So it was a nice group for starting, Stange said. Last year we had over 550. So usually our early registration is around 480 or so, and then the individuals that didnt register but still need help when you add them in, weve been about 550 for the last three years.
Registration was due July 26, but Stange said parents who missed the deadline can contact her at 605-690-4319 or Dawn Johnson at 605-695-4679, and theyll try to schedule something for those families after the event officially concludes at 6 p.m.
We figure out what we need according to that registration form, and on the day of the event they come according to their parents last name, so that its staggered throughout the day because otherwise we would just have a whole ton of people at the beginning usually. And we really encourage the children to come and pick out their own supplies, Stange said. The excitement that the kids show when they can pick out all their own things and have it, you know, the way they want it and not have it done for them really they get to do the shopping and pick out their favorite colors its really nice.
In Brookings, the first day of school is Sept. 3. Other area schools start sooner Elkton on Aug. 21, Sioux Valley on Aug. 20, and Deubrook on August 15.
If people think back to when school started for them as a child, theres that sense of excitement because theyre seeing their friends again and you know everything is kind of brand new, Stange said. But if youre that child that didnt have the funds to get the colored pencils or the crayons or the notebooks that are needed it separates you somewhat from the other children and we want every child to be able to start school with what they need, so that they realize they have a community thats there to support them.
Inflation has hit the pocketbooks of both parents and program volunteers.
We need 5,600 pencils this year. And we max out at 12 (per child). But if you look at some of the school supply lists, you know theyre asking for 36 or 48 pencils. And its like, we cant do that it is a lot of lead! Stange said. But this year we made sure every fourth-grader on up will have the opportunity to get mechanical pencils; because thats a cool thing, and we want them to be able to choose that if they wish.
Theyre always looking for donations of time or money to help the program succeed.
We had a mom come in and give us a donation this year, Stange said. She shared that when she was a single mom, the program was so helpful for her that now that she has more support and is doing better, she wants to be able to give back. And so we know that were having a positive effect on families.
Donations are welcome year-round and can be mailed to Family Back2School Project, P.O. Box 224, Brookings SD, 57006.
Our goal is to make that first day of school a day where all of the kids are equitable in what they have, Stange said. It gives kids a sense of pride to be able to have all of the supplies that they need. We want them to feel a part of the community. And its really important for us to be able to do that for the kids.
More information is available at the Brookings Family Back2School Project page on Facebook.
Email Jay Roe at[email protected].
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