More parishes outfit students for the classroom

Most families are spending more on food, gas and housing lately, so there’s less left for the notebooks, pens and book bags usually purchased at this time of year. In response, many more parishes in the diocese are collecting school supplies to help children start their school year right.

“There are a great many children in need,” said Cheri Foster, religious education administrator at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Schaghticoke.  “This is one of the simplest things in the world to do to help.”

The project, she said, doesn’t take a lot of effort to organize. Announcements were put in the bulletin and a box to collect the supplies was placed in the back of the church. Over the weeks of the campaign, parishioners typically fill up the box two to three times, Mrs. Foster said. The donated supplies go to the Hoosic Valley School District.

Purchasing school items can be a challenge for families that are financially strapped. “I’m a grandmother and the list of supplies my grandchildren need is ludicrous,” Mrs. Foster said.

Supplies or food

According to the National Retail Federation, the average family with school-aged children will spend $594.24 on back to school purchases this year. Of that figure $98.47 will be spent on school supplies like pens, paper, and markers. The balance is spent on clothes and shoes, with some families also purchasing electronic equipment such as computers.

School supply expenses can rival an average family’s monthly food budget. According to the Catholic Charities report, “Poverty in the Diocese of Albany,” the average family living in the diocese needs to budget $587 a month for food.

With many family budgets already hard hit by other costs, stocking up for school can become a hardship.

Sister Yvette Martin, CSJ, pastoral associate for pastoral care and social outreach at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Colonie, said the parish food pantry will assist 30 children with school supplies this year.

“The back to school needs are very expensive,” she said.

Longer lists

This is the first year the food pantry will offer school supplies. Many other parishes around the 14 counties of the diocese have initiated such drives.

Families served by Our Lady of Mercy’s food pantry show up with school-issued recommendations that include items like pens, paper, and crayons, as well as tissues, disinfecting wipes, and graphing calculators.

“If you have three kids in a family and three supply lists, how does a family do it?” Sister Yvette asked.

The families using Our Lady of Mercy’s food pantry are already doing what they can. “We have new families where both parents are working and they can’t make ends meet,” Sister Yvette said. “A lot has to do with the increase in gas and in food. The economy is not good. We expect to see even more people in the winter when they have to pay for fuel.”

Adding apparel

Ss. Anthony and Joseph parish in Herkimer tries to lesson the burden for families in need by providing not only school supplies but also clothing and shoes.

“We feel that every child deserves a new first day of school outfit so as not to be singled out as a person in need,” said Angie Wiliczka, chair of the Christian Service Committee at the parish.

Each year the parish assists between 23 and 26 children, she said. Parishioners can adopt one child and purchase a complete back to school outfit including shoes for them, or they can chose to purchase separates like pants or a sweater.

There is a wide range of parishioner involvement in the project, Mrs. Wiliczka said. One parishioner is purchasing all of the needed items for four siblings, while others make cash donations. Parishioners who can’t afford to purchase outfits make donations of school supplies like pens, markers and paper.

The idea to adopt families as school starts grew out of the parish’s Christmas giving tree. “The same families have the same needs at school time as they do at Christmas,” Mrs. Wiliczka said.

Needs persist

Holy Family Parish in Little Falls also helps the same families during its back-to-school drive as it does during Christmas.

Sister Marilyn Hayes, CSJ, pastoral associate at Holy Family said the local public elementary school is located across the street from the church.  The school approaches the parish each year at Christmas for help.

“If there is a need at Christmas, there is a need at the beginning of the school year,” Sister Marilyn said.

St. Peter’s in Delhi works with other churches in Delhi to collect needed items. Parishioners donate school supplies which are then distributed by the Delhi Area Clergy Association, said Sharon Gruver, parish secretary.

The parish accepts donations of cash as well as school supplies. She said the Delhi Area Clergy Association fills backpacks with needed school supply items as well as hygiene items like tooth paste and tooth brushes.

(08/21/08)