The Estevan Salvation Army is accepting applications for the back-to-school backpack program as the school year is creeping closer this year.
The program operates yearly for Estevan during the summer months, with applications open until August 2nd.
Community Ministries Director Ronza Reynard describes the program and what it does to help out families.
"Right now we are accepting applications for our back-to-school backpack program and we've been running this for a number of years. People with low income, they can come in and apply and what they'll get is a backpack for their children and then some school supplies. It won't be everything that they need, but it will help offset some costs of what it takes to get the kids back to school come September."
So far the Salvation Army has seen a good amount of interest in the program with the deadline coming soon.
"Our application process is open till next Friday, August the 2nd. So if people want to just come down to the office and talk to Sharon or Lynn and fill it out, it's really easy. Just fill out the application, and they'll be given the time and when they can pick up the backpacks and we'll have that all arranged," said Reynard. "Then the parents can come in and then they can pick out whichever backpack that they would like according to the age group and grade of the students."
The Salvation Army has had some good luck getting school supplies this year and is always looking for more.
"Most of the things we are going to be probably having to purchase, we did put out a call. If people have any unopened new school supplies, we would like them to drop them off here at the Salvation Army. We will greatly take it if somebody would like to donate monetary donation and they can drop that off at the office as well."
Reynard says that local families are thrilled there's a program that can help out with the cost of school.
"We've had a number of families who have used it in previous years and they feel that it really does help them. I mean, it might be only $40 or $50 worth of supplies and everything, but that's $40 or $50 that can help them out when they have to get the rest of the things that they might need or they can use that money that they're saving towards something else."
This will be the last Salvation Army initiative of the summer, with the organization soon getting ready for the winter season.
"That's pretty much it. We're probably going to be soon starting to organize Christmas. Just what we want to hear at this time of the year, but nothing else really happening in July and August other than the backpack program."