Free school supplies available to families in need - where to go and how to sign up
As the first day of school comes closer, back to school shopping is yet another expense for parents at this time of year.
Inflation is increasing the prices of school supply basics, like everything else. For low-income families who need to fill backpacks for multiple children, the financial pressure is that much more intense.
Three local nonprofit organizations in Gardner and Winchendon have free school supply programs for any family in need. Here's how to register for them.
Free school supplies are in high demand
The Gardner Community Action Committee (Gardner CAC) is preparing for their annual backpack program that gives free school supplies to children in grades K-12. Each summer before the school year starts, the Gardner CAC has distributed over 200 backpacks filled with school supplies for low-income families in Gardner, Ashburnham, Hubbardston, Templeton, and Westminster. School supply donations are accepted in the Narthex at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
Due to a high number of applicants, the Gardner CAC has to put any families currently looking for free school supplies on a waiting list. The nonprofit requires families to register to the waiting list on their website gardner-cac.org.
This is the second year that Winchendon Community Action Committee (Winchendon CAC) and the GFA Federal Credit Union have partnered to collect and distribute backpacks filled with school supplies for children K-12. The two organizations have the goal of distributing over 200 backpacks filled with supplies.
Parents or legal guardians do have to sign up to receive more details on the pickup date and time at https://forms.gle/5nbB7uzUYBiypKNy6. Through Monday, Aug. 21, the CAC is accepting school supplies donations at 5 Summer Drive in Winchendon from Tuesday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The CAC is collecting school supplies donations at the annual Winchenstock music festival on Saturday, Aug. 12. School supplies donors will earn free raffle tickets to enter at the festival raffle.
More: When does school start in Greater Gardner? Check the full list of school districts
New school supply resource in Gardner
The newly opened Gardner Family Resource Center at 205 School St. is having a free school supply pick up event on Saturday, Aug. 12 between 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The center hopes to distribute school supplies to between 50 and 100 children in the community. Supplies were donated by Cradles to Crayons, a nonprofit organization that focuses on disturbing every day essential items to children in low-income communities.
Paula Spivey, director of the Gardner center, said Cradles to Crayons brought dozens of backpacks to the resource center for the distribution event. She said if any family needs any additional supplies for their children, the center can provide them with it or direct them to another organization that can help them, they just need to ask.
Spivey said calling ahead of time to confirm that you are going to the event on Saturday, Aug. 12 is encouraged but not required. She said calling in advance will give the center an estimate on how many backpacks they should prepare. Call the center at (978) 730-1275.
This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Free school supplies Gardner Winchendon Community Action Committee
