Last month the Community Foundation distributed ninety ‘back to school’ vouchers worth $50 each across the six primary schools and the secondary college in our district. Each school passes these Kmart vouchers on to local families for the purchase of clothes and materials needed by the students to start school. These vouchers, worth a total of $4,500 were funded by donations from its members, together with a grant.
“The return to school is an expensive time for families,” says Ruth Rogan, Executive Officer of the Community Foundation. “The costs of books, uniforms, shoes, laptop, school-bags…it all adds up, particularly when you have a few school aged children. This can cause a fair bit of financial stress not long after the costs of Christmas.”
The ‘Back to School’ program aims to ensure that all children start school ready to learn and with the uniform, school bag and books that everyone else has. Set up originally by the Foundation of Rural and Regional Renewal (‘FRRR’) 20 years ago, this program is now being funded directly by donations to the Mirboo North & District Community Foundation.
The program is supporting the students in the Thorpdale, Narracan, Mirboo North, Boolarra, Yinnar and Yinnar South Primary Schools, as well as the Mirboo North Secondary College.
The Community Foundation also supports these schools with an annual welfare grant.
This ensures that students whose families cannot afford some necessities, camps or other educational opportunities can still access them.
If you would like to support this need in our community, you can make a tax deductible donation to the Financial Hardship Fund.
Email us on info@mirboodistrictfoundation.org.au for more details or drop in to Co-space during school hours.