New clothes, school supplies a near reality for 300 HDSB students

By: Fernando Arce, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Milton Reporter

We wouldn’t send doctors into the ER without their scrubs and specialized medical tools, or astronauts into space without a shuttle and suits. So why should children go to school without new clothes and supplies?

That’s what the Halton Learning Foundation is hoping to change through their 2024 Back to School campaign, which has reached 50 per cent of its goal, successfully helping over 150 students in the Halton District School Board with clothes and school supplies. With just a little more help from the community, says CEO Marc Clare, they can reach their goal of helping 300 students by their Sept. 30 deadline.

“As the new school year kicks off, we are asking for a final push from the community to ensure that every student starts the year with the confidence and supplies they need to succeed,” Clare says.

While normally the HLF receives an average of 15 requests for help a day around November, this year the calls have come in much earlier. Fadwa Hadeed, manager of communications, says they believe that’s due to the “economic situation and the increase in food and house prices.”

“We are hearing that many families are accessing social services at the same time, and that’s an increasing factor we see … mentioned more often when school staff are submitting their requests to the “Eliminating Barriers” program,” Hadeed told the Milton Reporter. “There are two dozen educational foundations in Ontario, and they are also experiencing the increase of requests from families in need.”

There’s also been a year-over-year increase of teachers requesting help, says Hadeed. Last year, there were nearly 2900 requests from school staff — a 40 per cent increase over the previous year, and then another 45 per cent increase in the last school year (2023-2024).

“That’s why we are projecting an increase again this year, and we already see more requests coming in and we are just in the first two weeks in the school year,” she says. “Many charitable organizations are also seeing the increase in requests from families in need.”

It’s also why the community’s involvement has been crucial to reach the halfway point and to reach the goal, she says. So far, “the overwhelming donations” are coming from the general public — from $5 to $1000.

That money goes a long way in helping students’ learning and development.

“When students have their needs met like not having to wear clothes from their parents or siblings, they feel more confident around their peers. Also, many students, according to school staff and principals, come to school without lunches or without having breakfast,” says Hadeed.

“That alone affects their focus during class and by default their success during the school year.”

Private businesses have also donated, but Hadeed says they need to “grow this amount.” They’re hoping to do this by encouraging businesses to become Back to School Champions by donating, organizing fundraisers, or sharing the campaign on their social media platforms.

HLF is also partnering with Belair Direct once again to match monthly donations for the first year up to a total of $15,000.

“The match offered by Belair Direct encourages new monthly donations in September to support students during the whole school year.”

Donations can be made online at goback2school.ca.