One of the hallmarks of beginning a new school year is shopping for school supplies. But for families whose budgets don’t have much wiggle-room, the cost of those supplies can be difficult to absorb.
As students prepare to head back to school, the Kiwanis Club of Huntsville Muskoka wants to ensure that every student has a backpack full of supplies to help them succeed. Last year, the Kiwanis Club of Huntsville Muskoka, in partnership with Staples’ two Muskoka stores, were able to distribute $35,000 worth of school supplies to students and schools from Gravenhurst to Burks Falls.
“In 2020, Kiwanians spent well over 100 man hours sorting and filling backpacks, we travelled nearly 1,000 km delivering school supplies from Gravenhurst to Burks Falls, and the end result was over 400 happy kids and families from Gravenhurst Public School to Land of Lakes P.S. in Burks Falls, and so many in between,” notes club secretary/treasurer, Rick Brooks. “The issue of affordability does not just pertain to housing, many families are firstly not a traditional 2 parents and perhaps both working, in many cases its one parent trying to make ends meet and finding they have to make undesireable choices..sometimes what we concern necessities, they see as luxuries, so the children don’t get the tool they truly need to succeed. programs have not been successful at trying to fill those needs and through our partnership with Staples, we try our best to do that.”
This year’s Staples for Education program launched last week with a $5,000 donation from Paul Middlebrook, owner of Centre Stream Finishing, a local company specializing in both interior and exterior painting.
Middlebrook said that as his business has been successful and he does work all over Muskoka, he wanted to give back to the kids of the community that has supported him.
Donations to help Kiwanis and Staples stuff backpacks with school supplies can be made to cashiers at both the Huntsville and Bracebridge Staples stores until Sept. 19.
Don’t miss out on Doppler!
Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox three times per week!
Click here to support local news
Join the discussion: