For the fifth year in a row, the Prince Rupert Salvation Army will be giving out backpacks to students who are heading back to school next month but might not be able to afford one.
If you have a child who needs a backpack for back to school but money is tight, you can get one at the Salvation Army Church between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on August 30 and 31.
“We’re just giving out backpacks to family who could use them,” says Cpt. Gary Shiels of the Salvation Army,
“We do somewhere around 300 to 325 backpacks every year.”
Backpacks of every size and kind are being donated to the Salvation Army from the Prince Rupert Rotary Club and Northern Savings Credit Union and every backpack contains a coupon for 15 per cent off school supplies at the Bargain Shop. In past years the group also have out school supplies with the backpacks, but Shiels says that this year they decided to forgo the free supplies and get more backpacks instead.
Anybody who needs a backpack is invited to come down to get one, there is no rules about income or employment that determines who can have them.
“There is no way to be disqualified, the backpacks will go to where there is a need. All we ask is that people bring down a proof of child... Anything will work, like a healthcard will do, or even the kids themselves,” says Sheils.