This year, a record number of children will benefit from the distribution of free school supplies through Operation Sac à Dos (OSAD), which has seen an increase in requests and a drop in donations.
Between now and the start of the school year, 10,000 school children in and around Montreal, or 3,000 more than last year, will receive backpacks, notebooks and school bags, giving families like the Janis’s some respite as they enter secondary three in the fall.
“I work to help my mom pay for my supplies, so I can use my savings to buy art supplies while I get some for free,” explains the 14-year-old, who is very involved in her community.
In addition to being a beneficiary of OSAD, Janice volunteers with her 36-year-old single mother, Myleen Sonfack.
The Cameroonians are residents of Villeray and have dedicated countless volunteer hours to neighboring organizations since their arrival in Canada in June 2023.
Photo by ZOÉ ARCAND
440 children and 215 parents benefit from OSAD in this district. School supplies were distributed at the Padro Villeri Center on Saturday.
According to data from regulatory body Regroupment Partage, 42% of beneficiary parents had employment income in 2023, which is “deeply worrying” for deputy director-general Anne Marie Ethier.
“It’s something that’s increasing every year. This means that working middle-class people are becoming more and more impoverished and unable to provide for their families,” he explains.
This is especially true for computer scientist Ms. Sonfalk. “It makes my life easier because I can save money that I reinvest for my children,” explains Ms Sonfak, who has a child under two.
Constant increase
OSAD with its resources manages to help 7% of children in need as per Regroupement Share calculations based on poverty index.
The number of children to be served continues to grow. Last year, OSAD helped 7,000 children, 6,000 in 2022 and then 5,000 in 2021, Ms Ethier worries.
At the same time, donations from individuals — made through their website — are dwindling: About ten days before the start of the school year, the organization raised $85,000 of its $175,000 goal last year.
“It’s costing us about $500,000 this year,” said Ms. Ethier, who wonders how she will pay the bills.
This fund makes it possible to customize 14 custom backpack models and provides most of the supplies for one school year. The bags and their contents are appropriate for the children’s school level.
Photo by ZOÉ ARCAND
No government subsidy
A nonprofit that cannot receive government grants is in a difficult situation.
The non-profit organization is run by charity and the contribution of a few partners.
“The people who help us are often people who already have small facilities,” Ms Ethier says. “Every donation counts,” he insists.
Especially as OSAD progresses. Since its pilot projects last year, Regroupment Partage has also distributed school supplies outside the metropolitan area. Longuuil, MRC des Laurentides et de l’Assomption, Gatineau and CSS de la Région-De-Sherbrooke are also served.
Delivery will be from 15th to 24th August.
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