Have you ever had to shop for school supplies? For most families, it’s a significant expense as they prepare for the return to school. For some families, already feeling financial pressure, it’s one more thing they cannot reasonably afford. The Mustard Seed’s Fair Start School Supply Program provides support with packages of school supplies.
Started 16 years ago by Linda Matthews and Vera Webb, and carried on by a team of staff and volunteers at the Mustard Seed, the goal of the program is to allow every child to start the school year with all the supplies they need to learn and thrive.
“We are anticipating a huge demand for the Fair Start program this year,” said Reverend Chris Riddell, executive director, The Mustard Seed. “It’s been a very busy summer with families using our services at The Mustard Seed and we are expecting they will need us to get ready for the school year as well.”
More than 400 hundred packages of school supplies for children of all ages will be distributed on Tuesday, August 20, 2013 from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. Packages will be handed out on a first come, first served basis. Families wishing to receive packages should bring identification for children and adults.
The Mustard Seed is welcoming financial donations to support the Fair Start program. For more information please visit mustardseed.ca or contact Janet or Karen at (250) 953-1575. The community can further help families in need get ready for the school year with donations of back to school clothing to The Mustard Seed Clothing Bank and food and financial donations to the Food Bank.
In a perfect world, every family would be able to easily outfit their children for the return to school. When it’s not the case, your help becomes all the more important.
About The Mustard Seed
The Mustard Seed has been helping people living in poverty since 1975. The programs and services of The Mustard Seed are 100 per cent community-funded and include Vancouver Island’s largest food bank, counselling, advocacy and outreach services, a drop-in centre with a coffee shop, clothing bank, haircuts, nursing and chapel, a family centre with life skills programs and an addictions recovery program at Hope Farm Healing Centre. The Mustard Seed provides services seven days per week and relies on approximately 40 volunteers per day to serve those in need. For more information visit mustardseed.ca or call 250-953-1575.
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