The Sawatzky’s Furniture & Appliances Pack a Backpack School Supply Drive, powered by LG, is back on September 3rd and 4th at Superstore in Winkler. CFAM Radio 950, Country 88, and The Eagle 93.5 will be broadcasting live from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., collecting both school supplies and monetary donations to support students in the Western and Garden Valley School Divisions.
For new Western School Division Superintendent Stephen Jaddock, this is an important time to connect with both the community and his team.
Financial pressures on families
Jaddock notes that many families face significant challenges when purchasing school supplies.
“We’re living in tougher times, and there are challenges for families, particularly families that have more than one child in the school system, and they have to find school supplies for all of their children.”
For Jaddock, the importance of fairness among students is crucial.
“We want to make sure from a school division perspective that we are lowering those prices and that there’s equity amongst all the students that come into our public schools. So we don’t want a family feeling that they’re less than someone else because they can’t come up with the school supply.”
Many schools have moved to a system where parents contribute a nominal fee and the school manages supplies, ensuring no student is left behind. Jaddock says there are many benefits to operating this way, an example of which is to ensure no one student arrives with what he called a “Cadillac bundle” of supplies.
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Donations are always needed
A thing to remember, says Jaddock, is that school supplies are consumable and must be replenished throughout the year.
“I don’t think we can have too much of anything. Because they’re always used.”
Community members can bring backpacks, pencils, markers, binders, calculators, and more. Cash donations are also welcome.
The Pack the Backpack School Supply Drive runs September 3rd and 4th at Superstore in Winkler, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Donations of new school supplies or cash help ensure every student in the Western and Garden Valley School Divisions starts the school year with the tools they need.
For a full donation list, click here.