Middle Tennessee organization works to lighten back-to-school financial burden for foster families
Last year, the National Retail Federation expected the average family to spend about $860 on school supplies.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Back-to-school shopping can put a strain on families financially. Youth Villages is aiming to lighten the financial burden of back-to-school for their foster families.
Kara Puckett has been a foster mom for two and a half years. She said even though it’s difficult the results are rewarding and fulfilling.
Between her foster daughter and her two boys, she estimates she’ll spend $50 to $75 on each child, just for supplies. She said that’s a low estimate.
“Financially it’s a lot to raise a child and while we do receive a stipend from the state. It goes only so far,” Puckett said.
Backpack Heroes is an initiative with Youth Villages that gives over 1700 Middle Tennessee families backpacks filled with brand-new school supplies.
“We just don’t want our families to have to worry about that extra cost,” Julie Abbott, the community development manager with Youth Villages said. “We’re going to go through 13,000 two-pocket folders this season. We give each youth eight two-pocket folders.”
For the kids, Abbott says it helps them feel confident.
“They don’t feel like they’re getting second-hand equipment so they’re not second-hand citizens and now they can be comfortable in that classroom to learn and be proud of themselves and have that confidence so they can excel where they’re at,” Abbott said.
For parents, organizations like Backpack Heroes help lift a financial burden off their shoulders.
“We can do things like you know we pay for our daughter to do soccer at school and she also does the soccer rec league in the spring and again that’s stuff that adds up,” Puckett said.
It’s a cause that Abbott says everyone will benefit from.
”Every kid matters and they just want to be kids. They want to feel good. They want to feel confident and succeed. Foster kids have the same dreams and desires as other kids who are with their biological families. Supporting them is going to help support all of us,” Abbott said.
For those who want to help support Backpack Heroes, the organization has a drop-off site at 301 Plus Park Suite 100 in Nashville, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
They’ll accept donations until July 23. People can also donate online here.
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