C.A.R.E. ‘Back to School Project’ offers assistance

CRESCO - C.A.R.E. is ramping up to assist Howard County families in need as the few weeks before school, will soon dwindle to days.  C.A.R.E., a nonprofit organization, established in 2007, hoping that with assisting with backpacks and school supplies it will alleviate some of the “big bucks” it takes to have their child(ren) school ready.

Howard County’s unemployment is under four percent. However, that doesn’t mean that by having a job parents are making enough to provide even a middle-class lifestyle for their family. 

With a significant number of families underemployed or undergoing a variety of financial burdens, it can be difficult for parents to feed their families, and provide general necessities for their children. The thought of paying school registration fees, purchasing required school supplies, and getting a child or children tennis shoes for the 2017-18 academic year can be overwhelming.

“A lot of families unfortunately live from paycheck to paycheck,” said one C.A.R.E. board member. “Providing for day to day needs can be difficult. And while many parents are happy for their children to get back to the regular school schedule, getting them prepared and ready to go is not always easy. The Back to School project tries to alleviate some of that stress for our families in need.”

C.A.R.E. cannot provide everything a student needs but hopes to provide qualified families whose children are prekindergarten through grade 12 with a minimum amount of school supplies and a backpack if needed.

The process begins with getting school supply lists from the Howard-Winneshiek School District, gathering referrals and getting donation boxes out to the public. Donated items are either picked up or returned to C.A.R.E. and are then put into backpacks according to grade level.

“We couldn’t do this without the help of our community,” said a C.A.R.E Board member. “Without their generous donations we couldn’t do what we do.”

The Back to School project is just one of several projects C.A.R.E. works on throughout the year. Other projects include the Winter Warmth Project and the Christmas Project; all geared to helping fill a need that isn’t being filled throughout the county.

If you would like to donate new items to C.A.R.E. for the Back to School project they can be dropped off now through Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, at CUSB Bank  or Cresco Bank & Trust, Cresco. Items that are welcome for donation are backpacks and socks, as well as general school supplies such as notebooks, headphones for elementary school age children, note cards, rulers, pencils, pens, erasers, markers, calculators, glue, high lighters, folders, scissors, tissue, dry erase markers, cleaning wipes and both quart & gallon Ziploc bags.

If you or know of a family that may need help this year with school supplies and you/they are not receiving assistance from someone else, please call Kim at 563-580-3216.