Children in need are getting some support before heading back to school next month.
Uplifting Blessings, a non-profit that distributes items to individuals and charities, has teamed with Orillia OPP to ‘cram a cruiser’ with school supplies and snacks for vulnerable youth in the community.
Officers were at Michaels and Metro on Saturday, collecting items from shoppers who donated to the cause. Const. Fernanda Primo says Uplifting Blessings had more than 600 children register to benefit from the initiative and receive backpacks full of supplies before heading back to school.
“That’s almost doubled from the number of kids who registered last year,” she said. “It shows a lot of families are struggling.”
Sunday is the last day to make donations of school supplies, snacks, or backpacks. Donations should be dropped off at the Orillia OPP detachment at 1 University Ave.
“So far, we have 50 backpacks ready to go tomorrow,” Primo said. “Hopefully, we will have at least another 50 by the end of this week. We are hoping that people will come by.”
She says it’s important for Orillia OPP to lend a hand to local youth.
“Times are tough and inflation is high,” she said. “We want to make sure kids are all set up for school and have everything they need.”
Uplifting Blessings also helps children who are displaced from their homes, which is why Primo says it’s important for the community to contribute by donating to fundraisers like this one.
“We know that everyone is struggling. Everything helps. No donation is too small or too big,” she said.
