“It’s disconcerting”: the request of poor families for backpacks and school supplies explodes

Some children in need could arrive at school without backpack at the start of the school year, charitable organizations failing to provide on demand as the number of families caught in the throat has increased.

• Read also: “Run do your lists right away”: prepare to pay more for school supplies for the start of the school year

“We see young people who arrive at school with a plastic bag instead of a backpack. Meanwhile, ” illustrates Audrey Renaud, director general of the sharing group.

“I had requests [de parents] Every day since May, when the school year was not even over, ”she said.

Between August 14. Nevertheless, 24, the 34 points of service from the grouping group will distribute backpacks and school supplies in Montreal and in 8 administrative regions as part of the backpack operation.

“it’s disconcerting”: request poor families

Their last concern

The group intends to help 11,000 children, but M^me Renaud estimates that 150,000 would need it.

“We are far from being able to help everyone,” she sighs.

No wonder. when you know that in the majority of places served the number of people in precarious situations increased by 40% compared to last year, estimates M^me Renaud.

«[Pour] Those who cannot pay the grocery store, school supplies are the last of their concerns, ”she recalls.

And these households are no longer summed up at the cliché of single -parent parents or new arrivals. “We have workers, two -parent families … It’s really disconcerting.”

Triste expansion

“It is an economic context where “it’s disconcerting”: request poor families no one has a cenne. ” exclaims for its laplant Francine side of the starry godmother project.

And this, while the cost of school equipment increases, especially because of the American tariff war.

In 2022, M^me Laplante managed to give 550 backpacks, supplies and lunch boxes. Last year, it was made at 2395.

This year, she plans to give at least 3100.

“It is a good and bad news that we take from expansion,” she sighs.

Fortunately. the organizations interviewed found a way to absorb part of the price increase thanks to their key partners and the purchase of mass.

The sharing group has for example done business with Headster Kids. a company established in Granby which will notably provide them with 30,000 products at preferential rates, such as backpacks, lunch boxes and pencil boxes.