Recognizing that food isn’t the only daily necessity many local children and their families struggle to afford, Guru Nanak Food Bank is hosting the annual School Supply Donation Drive at its Delta and Surrey locations this Sunday, Sept. 1, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This is the second year that the drive is being held in Delta, and the third year in Surrey. The drives have been organized and promoted in collaboration with the Delta School District and Surrey Schools.
Neeraj Walia, Director and Secretary of the food banks, says the idea of the drive came from his own son.
“He was in Grade Seven, and he said, ‘Dad, there are food drives, but I’ve never heard about a school-supply drive. A lot of my friends, they can’t afford them.’”
Walia explains that the need for the drive is the result of ongoing financial challenges affecting both families and schools.
“Funding for the drive is very low at the provincial [government] level. And in both cities, there are a lot of new immigrants from countries where education isn’t as important, and if we don’t accommodate [the students], they’re not going to be able to continue on to college. And we know that the number of refugee families in Delta is very high, and the parents have higher spending priorities than educational supplies.
“Many of the kids come to school with new supplies, but some of them [have no choice but to use second-hand supplies], and that can affect the quality of their education as well as their mental health. Some kids actually report this to their teachers, and then those reports go to the school district.”
Last year’s Delta drive raised approximately $15,000 in supplies, as well as cash and gift cards; in Surrey, it was approximately $18,000.
“We’re looking forward to more this year,” says Walia. “Our request to parents when they’re going back-to-school shopping: Just get some spares of whatever your kids need: maybe a few pencils, some notebooks, a backpack… And when you come to donate it, please bring your kid, so they know how important this is to everyone.”
Malia points out that the drive is especially grateful for donations of rain-resistant supplies, such as waterproof shoes and jackets, or gift cards from retailers that sell them.
While the drive is only taking place on Sept. 1, donated items are welcomed at the food banks on any day, both before and after. The Delta food bank is located at 11188 84 Ave.; the Surrey one is at 15299 68 Ave.
For more information, call 604-580-1313 or email [email protected].
