Struggling to afford school supplies? Several local agencies can help

All too soon, summer vacations are wrapping up and families are getting ready to send their children back to school — if they haven't already.

While many COVID-19 protocols, which dominated the previous two school years, have eased up to a degree, families and schools face new challenges. One is a temporary federal program that gave all students access to free breakfast and lunch ended this summer. Another is soaring inflation that has stretched many budgets.

The Consumer Price Index, which tracks the average price of consumer goods and services, increased 8.5% for the 12 months ending in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this month. The energy index increased nearly 33% over that same period. And the food index increased 10.9%, which is the largest 12-month increase since the period ending May 1979.o

Bob Goldstein, chairman of Good Neighbors in Cuyahoga Falls, which provides food, clothing and support to those in need, said its costs have risen around 20%. The number of people asking for help from the nonprofit has also gone up, while donations have gone down.

"Inflation and higher gas prices have meant we are seeing more working families and seniors using our services," Goldstein said, adding that Good Neighbors is helping an average of 10 to 12 new families a week.

So far, Good Neighbors, which is at 1742 Second St., has distributed more than 375 new book bags filled with school supplies such paper, pencils, folders, computer mice and earbuds.

"We are proud to be able to help students in any way we can," said Alice Beatty, the school supply chair. "Thanks to generous donors, we gave out a full complement of supplies."

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While the major push to distribute the backpacks has ended, backpacks and supplies are still available for families who need them, Goldstein said.

Darlene Bedford, who co-chairs the school supplies committee, said each bag with supplies costs around $24, adding that the price of the bags themselves went up $1. Still, at $7 for a backpack, it's economical.

"Young's (Screenprinting) has been very good to us," Bedford said of the Cuyahoga Falls company, which donated many of the school supplies.

Bedford said that the bags were labeled by grade level. "The kindergartners get the cute bags," she said. "The older students get the more practical bags."

Besides school supplies, Good Neighbors also gives out clothing, shoes, feminine hygiene products, fresh produce and even pet food, Goldstein said.

Businesses across Greater Akron help those in need

Businesses help those in need

Copley Outreach Center is another organization that has helped families obtain needed school supplies.

"We have been giving out Staples gift cards to all students who are enrolled in our program," said Maryann Henry, director of Copley Outreach. "Staples also added a box of supplies that their patrons can purchase. Each student gets one of these as well."

Families needing assistance from Copley Outreach should enroll through the Copley-Fairlawn City Schools, Henry said.

"Letters and emails have been sent out already for those who qualify for free and reduced lunches," she said. "These families are below the state standards, and therefore are qualified to apply. After they have been accepted, we receive a list of students from our school liaison, and we add them to our list of students who will also receive weekend bags of food through the Copley-Fairlawn Cares program."

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Izzy Bullard of Dittoe Public Relations, which handles media relations for TCC and Wireless Zone, which are authorized Verizon retailers, said inflation has "certainly been at the top of mind for parents as they try to ready their kids for the school year."

"Last year, the average family with school-aged children spent nearly $850 on school supplies," Bullard said. "Inflation has only made this worse in 2022."

For the past several years, Verizon Wireless has organized a program to distribute backpacks with school supplies. This year, participating TCC and Wireless Zone stores, including the Verizon Wireless stores in Twinsburg, Macedonia, Norton, Uniontown and Barberton, gave out a total of 140,000 backpacks with school supplies, the same number as last year. Since 2013, the first year for the School Rocks Backpack Giveaway, more than 1.2 million backpacks have been given away, Bullard said.

Salvation Army, United Way and a local Akron church sponsor events and collections

Salvation Army, United Way, church sponsor events

Marian R. Calvin, director of development for Salvation Army Summit County Area Services, said the agency had a Stuff the Bus event July 30 in partnership with Walmart Fairlawn.

"We received over 1,500 items from people's generosity that day, and it wasn't even the tax holiday weekend," Calvin said. "Our volunteers had a wonderful time doing it, too."

Andrew Leask, associate vice president of marketing and brand management for United Way of Summit and Medina, said its Stuff the Bus event provided nearly 2,000 backpacks to area children and teens.

"United Way of Summit & Medina’s Stuff the Bus school supplies drive this year brought in 76,309 supplies, which were sorted by 155 volunteers into 1,970 backpacks for Summit and Medina County students," Leask said.

In Akron, the backpacks will be distributed through United Way’s Family Resource centers at McEbright Community Learning Center, Helen Arnold Community Learning Center, Robinson Community Learning Center and North High School, Leask said.

"Every student in those schools will receive a backpack," he said. "In Medina, the backpacks will be distributed through a partnership with the Salvation Army."

Those were just a handful of the many local community and business drives aiming to help those in need.

For those who may have missed these events, the Wesley Temple AME Zion Church will host a back-to-school carnival, said Barbara Crooks, a stewardess with the church. The oldest Black church in Akron will give out book bags and school supplies at the event from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 10, as well as provide carnival-themed fun.

"We have the fire department and police department coming," Crooks said. "We'll be giving away free book bags, school supplies, a free lunch; we will have games and prizes. Everyone is welcome."

Crooks said the idea for the back-to-school carnival, the first for the church, came from the ministry's younger members.

"We have a lot of new youth, and they wanted to do something for the public," she said.

Individuals or businesses who would like to donate supplies or other items for the carnival can call the church at 234-71-5742 or email info@wtamez.org, and ask for Veeda Sewell-Edwards.

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Area school districts have resources for students in need

School districts have resources

Organizations and businesses aren't the only ones offering assistance to struggling families. Several area school districts are hosting drives and have supplies on hand.

Amy Gay, family support specialist for Nordonia Hills City Schools, did her own school supply drive for the students. "Families could reach out to me if they have students in this district, " she said.

Joyce Hunt, from The Emergency Assistance Center food pantry in Northfield Center, said the Twinsburg City Schools "began doing their own collection of school supplies to help their students in need." Hudson City Schools, she added, "have always provided school supplies through St. Vincent DePaul at St. Mary's.

"They already had their distribution," Hunt said. "The school's social worker is still accepting requests."

In the past, The Emergency Assistance Center had offered school supplies in addition to its other services. However, Hunt said, the agency "felt that since it is being covered at the local school level, we would turn our attention to other services that can be offered instead."

Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Summit County agencies lend a hand to families needing school supplies