'It's a struggle': Rising cost of living makes for a difficult back to school season
CBC
Callie is taking a look at her school supplies as she prepares to start grade 12 in a few weeks.
"It's a struggle," says the 17 year-old from Sudbury. "All my stuff is really old, it's probably going to break soon."
Getting new books, clothes and materials isn't going to be easy, though, as money is tight. "No one works in my family," she said.
CBC has agreed not to use her last name because of the stigma attributed to living in poverty. There are many students facing similar situations across the region, according to United Way North East Ontario.
"We've heard a lot about children not being equipped to go back to school, from schools themselves, from parent groups or different organizations," says executive director Mary Lou Hussak.
"Some parents are having to choose between putting food on the table or getting clothes, shoes and backpacks for their kids," she adds.
United Way North East Ontario is launching a pilot program to help families in Timmins, North Bay and Sudbury as they prepare for the school year.
They match a student with a volunteer and a parent and give them money to go shopping for a couple of items.
"It's also teaching financial literacy. They have a budget and they get to shop within it," said Hussak.
Barrie mayor Alex Nuttall says initiatives like these can make a difference. He was in Greater Sudbury on Tuesday to deliver 2,000 backpacks as part of the initiative known as PIE: Providing Instruments for Excellence.
"Going back to school was really difficult for me as a kid," he said.
"On birthdays and Christmas, you celebrate behind closed doors as family, but when you're going back to school, everyone's like opening these gifts altogether in the classroom."
"It became a really difficult thing for my own confidence and self-esteem inside of school."
He thinks focusing on one back to school essential like a backpack is a good place to start.
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