According to the National Retail Federation, the average household is spending nearly $875 on back-to-school items this year, and Minnesota organizers leading supply-donation drives hope community members will consider a range of ways to help.
In eastern Minnesota, organizations such as Family Pathways help low-income households overcome the expenses.
Clarissa Zemke, associate director of advancement for the nonprofit, said there is a lot of demand for help, and fewer people have extra money to donate supplies. For those who do, she hopes they remember the many things students need to have a successful year. Beyond markers and notebooks, certain tech accessories are needed.
“Headphones are a big thing, I think, on pretty much every list from elementary on up,” Zemke pointed out. “A lot of things that we’re seeing right now, especially for the older kids, is USB flash drives.”
She noted that such supplies allow kids to transport digital assignments to places such as libraries when doing homework. Many schools provide Chromebooks, but organizers say they see a lot of wear and tear over the year, and having other ways to complete schoolwork can help students stay on track. If possible, graphing calculators for high schoolers can help households on a limited budget still have money for other necessities.
Area nonprofits say gym shoes and other clothing items should be considered, especially since kids can outgrow them fairly quickly.
Zach Spirov, program and community engagement coordinator for the nonprofit ResourceWest in the Twin Cities west-metro region, said when planning a donation, you are encouraged to consider getting something new and avoid hand-me-downs.
“Trying to get back into a memory from your youth and how exciting it is to go to school with new stuff and feel good about yourself,” Spirov explained.
He noted confidence can indicate students feel supported by their community, allowing them to focus on learning and achieving better outcomes. Officials from both organizations said monetary donations are welcome, too. It allows aid groups to help more of these households with daily living expenses, giving them extra wiggle room for back-to-school shopping.
Mike Moen writes for the Minnesota News Connection.