Getting Ready for Back To School
Our SummerFun Program kicked off last week, which can only mean one thing here at Readiness To Learn HQ: it's time to start thinking about our Back To School program! While our no-cost school supply store doesn’t open until the end of August, and we don’t start scheduling families until early August, the behind-the-scenes magic starts now!
What is the Back To School program? What is this magic being referenced?
How You Can Get Involved
The Back To School program is an initiative of Readiness To Learn, created by caring community members who recognized that when children start the school year with a new backpack that they picked out, filled with all the required materials, they are excited, proud, and indeed, ready to learn!
The Back to School program provides financial relief for parents. The cost of school supplies is at least $175.00 per child, a burden that adds stress to families facing economic hardships, turning the exciting time of a new school year into a time of worrying about making ends meet. Sign up.
One mother shared, “Readiness To Learn has really helped my family during a hard financial time. They have helped with school supplies…I love how warm and friendly the staff are. We are so lucky to have RTL in our community.”
Our Back To School program is set up to look like a store so students can pick out backpacks, folders, notebooks, and headphones that they like. This setup allows for a substantial selection and choice, providing an atmosphere of abundance. Often, young children believe that our program is an actual store! Parents appreciate this non-stigmatizing approach, as it allows them to provide their kids with the supplies they need without having to choose between an electricity bill or groceries.
This is where the magic comes in and how you can help! The truth is, it only feels like magic. We can project and provide abundance because of community support and donations, which is where YOU come in! Hosting a supply drop box at your business, church, or neighborhood can help create this magical abundance! Donating online now helps us purchase supplies to ensure that people who shop in our store on the last day of appointments have as much choice as those who shop on the first day.
If you are interested in hosting a drop box, please email rtlfprograms@readinesstolearn.org, and we can arrange to get a box to you. You can also make a secure online donation today to give to fall back-to-school programs! To support the ongoing work of Readiness To Learn explore donation options on our website here.
