Palliser School division one step closer to starting backpack program

By Erika Mathieu
Sunny South News

Palliser School Division’s Making Connections program recently received a donation of school backpacks, supplies, and a cheque for $5,000.00 from the TELUS Payday Lottery Committee in support of their backpack program. Katie West, who works at Palliser School Division with the Making Connections Program worked to complete the grant application for the funding.

After applying for the Telus Community Action grant in spring 2021, she heard back from the Telus Payday Lottery Committee that they would be able to make a donation to put toward creating a backpack program in the Palliser School Division.

“They were able to help fund the start-up of our program through both a monetary donation of $5,000 and through donating 120 backpacks stuffed with school supplies such as lined paper, notebooks, pencils, pencil cases, etc.,” West said.

The program will aim to ensure students have access to all of the tools, supplies, and backpacks they need to be successful in the classroom. The program, still in its early stages, will help many families and ease some of the stresses with the financial demands of buying school supplies.

“Our vision is to make (the program) available to all schools across the division to be able to refer families to the program that may need assistance with the cost of back-to-school supplies and other supplies they may need,” said West.

West added the program will allow students to focus on the academic and social aspects of schooling.

“We want our students and families to be able to focus on learning and not have to worry about any added stress in regard to attending school,” explained West, adding the team at the Making Connections program are grateful for the donation, and happy to move forward with their mission to help students and families in their communities.

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