Average cost for school supplies is $100. Here’s how you can help LS families in need

Rises in both prices and the number of students in classrooms are creating an increased need for back-to-school supplies this year.

“I believe that the financial stress that school supplies put on families with school-aged children is rising,” said Bethany Kaiser, program coordinator at Lee’s Summit Social Services. “With prices going up, we will only see an increase in the need for help.

“School supplies are not cheap and a family of one school-aged child spends over $100 on school supplies. By participating in the back-to-school program, we alleviate some of that stress.”

To help, the nonprofit is preparing for its annual distribution of new school supplies, clothing and shoes to low-income families from Aug. 1-12.

The pandemic did affect the program, said Megan Salerno, assistant director at Lee’s Summit Social Services.

“We did not have much of depletion of resources during the pandemic,” Salerno said. “Our community is so amazing and they were committed to giving back to those in need. There were also grants we were able to apply for that were specifically targeted to help during resource depletion due to the pandemic.

Fewer clients used the programs during 2020, due to the pandemic and fewer getting out and potentially exposing themselves or their children, Salerno said, adding that some items weren’t needed while children were learning online.

“We did, however, see an increase in 2021 and we do suspect that there will be an increase this year as well.”

To receive items from the program, the family must be a client of Lee’s Summit Social Services. To become a client, a person needs to make an appointment and live within the nonprofit’s four service areas: Lee’s Summit, Greenwood, Lone Jack or Lake Lotawana.

Clients must make appointments for the school supplies distribution to ensure there are enough volunteers to assist, Kaiser said.

“Clients are able to come in with their children and shop for the items,” Kaiser said. “They get to walk around and pick out their outfits, shoes and backpacks. The children really like to be able to pick out which shirts, shoes, and backpacks they get for the school year and enjoy finding something that fits their style.”

This year needs include high school backpacks; black, blue and red pens; 1-inch binders; colored pencils; composition notebooks; dividers; black dry erase markers; earbuds and headphones; erasers; glue sticks; highlighters; No. 2 pencils; gender neutral pencil bags; black permanent markers; washable markers; and new shoes.

All donations can be brought to the nonprofit’s office at 108 SE Fourth St., Lee’s Summit.

Kaiser said the distribution really never ends.

“If someone has recently moved into our service areas, has recently taken on a foster child, or has any other similar circumstance, they can come in to speak with us and we can get them a new backpack with the necessary supplies for their age group,” she said. “The need is ongoing throughout the year.”