GREEN BAY (WLUK) — Four Green Bay area non-profits joined forces to make a difference for families ahead of the new school year.
The ‘One Stop School Shop’ allowed thousands of students to get free supplies like pencils, markers, and backpacks.
Shoes, socks and underwear were also available.
Organizers say around 3,500 area students were pre-registered for Wednesday’s event.
The event was a blessing for families preparing their children to return to school.
“We’re seeing families who haven’t needed any of those financial resources before really strapped,” saidBecky Darrow, Director of Social Services for the Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay.
However, parents know it won’t cover everything.
“Even with the help you’re still spending about $50-100 on school supplies especially when they start getting into middle school, cause then you’ve got to start getting the expensive calculators,” said Tiffany Marshall of Green Bay.
Back to school spending for 2024 looks to be on-pace with last year’s record high projection.
According to data from the National Retail Federation, families with children in elementary through high school plan on spending an average of roughly $875 this year.
The total includes clothes, shoes, school supplies and electronics.
That’s slightly below last year’s expected average of $890 — which was a record high for the survey.
Using Target’s School Supplies List Assist on its website — FOX 11 took a closer look at how much some supplies for a fourth grade student at Chappell Elementary in Green Bay would cost.
For 34 items to be shipped to you, which included items like notebooks, pencils, colored pencils, a three ring binder, markers folders, glue sticks, a backpack, headphones — it’ll cost you roughly $145.
Tiffany Marshall, and others are appreciative of the ‘One Stop School Shop’ to help ease the burden — especially with more expensive items.
“The shoes and the backpack for sure. Backpacks can get very expensive, shoes, you know, they’re pricey,” said Marshall.
“It’s an excellent thing that they do for all of the kids I think it’s, I think it’s very special and I think it’s very helpful, too,” said Christine Burkholder.