Parents and students are preparing for the start of the school year. For most families it begins by purchasing new school supplies and backpacks. For low-income families it can be a financial burden.
In Newaygo County, Fremont-based nonprofit TrueNorth Community Services and its partners Fremont Area Community Foundation and Gerber Foundation confront rural poverty head-on.
This week community partners hosted the 16th Annual Tools for School Expo. Seven hundred and thirty-five kindergarten through 12th grade students from qualifying low-income families received a new backpack filled with the necessary, grade appropriate school supplies.
Mike Voyt is TrueNorth’s Volunteer and Special Projects Coordinator, he explains all students should enter the school year on a level playing field.
“So, folks that come here have the option to see some of the resources available to them in the community as well as get a haircut for free for their dependents, dental checks, vision checks.”
Meeting basic healthcare needs promoting learning and self-confidence.
More than 40 TrueNorth volunteers in addition to 20 agencies supported the program.
Patrick Center, WGVU News.