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| Back to School Help—Backpacks and School Supplies for Children | ||
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Do you remember the rules on the wall of the classroom? One always catches our attention. It says “Always Come to Class Prepared”. When children arrive the first day of school without shoes that fit or basic supplies in their hands it draws attention to their low-income status. First impressions are hard to erase. Our goal is that no child should have to start the first day of school without the supplies needed to succeed alongside their peers. The Back-to-School program was first offered in 1984, and has grown from helping a few dozen children to now serving over 1,200 children annually who attend schools within Yellowstone County.
Backpacks are donated and then filled by volunteers with age appropriate supplies (from color crayons to calculators) and are distributed during the month of August before school starts. In the past few years this program was extended to run throughout the school year because kids run out of things they need. Due to some generous partners and discounts from generous local retail partners, it now includes vouchers for athletic shoes for kids who wish to play a team sport yet cannot afford the special shoes required. Families must complete a form to access back-to-school program services. A printable form is found here from July – August. Already printed forms can be picked up at our offices.
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