Winnipeg group collecting school supplies for those in need
Winnipeggers are tightening their purse strings while filling backpacks with new school supplies.
Christine Stacey said less than 48 hours after making a Facebook post calling for school supply donations, people have donated enough to fill 25 backpacks. She's hoping to support low-income families with the donations - saying she understands what they are going through.
"I figured I want to help because my mom was in that place so I want to help someone else that's kind of in the same place," Stacey said." I still have more (supplies) coming so I'm actually quite excited about it."
This year - school supply budgets are shrinking, but it's not because supplies are cheaper. The Retail Council of Canada conducted a survey of 3,680 people in July. It found less people are willing to increase their budget and more people want to spend less, an indication of economic pressures.
Breaking down the dollars, nearly a quarter of people are planning to spend less than 50 dollars on supplies, a 3 per cent increase from last year. It also found three-quarters of people plan to spend more than $50 on supplies.
COMM.Unity204 Founder Daniel Hidalgo said they are collecting new school supplies hoping to get enough to fill 50 backpacks.
''I have an 11-yearold so I definitely know the costs associated with school,” Hidalgo said. "Things are getting back into the swing of things since the pandemic, the last thing we want children to worry about is how they look or what they have or don't have."
He says on top of needing new clothing, parents often have to pay school fees for children too.
"The barriers are just endless so if you find yourself in a situation where you are financially limited it can be a daunting experience to know that I might not be able to send my kids to school because I can't find them pens and papers."
Those looking to help can drop off donations at COMM.Unity’s 143 Smith location, or email Stacey at schristine221@gmail.com.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6864370.1714216082!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'The world is too messy for bureaucratic hurdles': Canada still bars Afghanistan aid
Ottawa has plans to finally stop blocking Canadian development aid to Afghanistan this year.
Student anti-war protesters dig in as faculties condemn university leadership over calling police
Students protesting the Israel-Hamas war at at universities across U.S., some of whom have clashed with police in riot gear, dug in Saturday and vowed to keep their demonstrations going, while several school faculties condemned university presidents who have called in law enforcement to remove protesters.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Hamas is reviewing an Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, as possible Rafah offensive looms
Hamas said Saturday it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, as Egypt intensified efforts to broker a deal to end the months-long war and stave off a possible Israeli ground offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Cisco reveals security breach, warns of state-sponsored spy campaign
State-sponsored actors targeted security devices used by governments around the world, according to technology firm Cisco Systems, which said the network devices are coveted intrusion points by spies.
I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'oesn't get' the global phenomenom.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Russia renews attacks on the Ukrainian energy sector as Kyiv launches drones at southern Russia
Russia launched a barrage of missiles against Ukraine overnight, in attacks that appeared to target the country's energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Russia said its air defense systems had intercepted more than 60 Ukrainian drones over the southern Krasnodar region.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs files motion to dismiss some claims in a sexual assault lawsuit
Lawyers for Sean "Diddy" Combs pushed back against a woman's lawsuit that accused him of sexual assault, filing a motion on Friday to dismiss some claims that were not under law when the alleged incident occurred.