BACK TO SCHOOL MADE A LITTLE EASIER!
For parents, August usually means getting their children ready for back-toschool. Armed with their school supplies shopping lists, they go around the various stores (that all seem to put out their back to school displays earlier each summer), hoping to get the best deals on those essential items for their children’s new school year. Depending on each school’s requirements, the final bill may be hard to swallow, especially for low-income families. Thankfully, Sun Youth distributes school supplies every year to children in need. This year was no exception with some 500 children receiving school supplies on August 21st and 22nd thanks to donations from the public and from companies. Back to school is also synonymous with new clothing. Youngsters, especially teenagers, want to look their best for the new school year. Once again, Sun Youth had a thought for them. As is now an annual tradition, Sun Youth distributed brand new clothing in adult sizes to undeprivileged families on August 15th and 16th. In total 2 200 received new clothes, many now able to use the money they saved to pay for other necessities such as school supplies. This distribution was made possible through the renewed support of Modern Eternity Maternity Coats and Apparel, VF Imagewear Canada Inc., and L’équipe Spectra. Last year the City of Montreal announced its Child Policy (La politique de l’enfant) with a budget of $25 million over 5 years to help children facing difficult situations, calling upon the support of major organizations across the city including Le Club des petits déjeuners, La Fondation du Dr. Julien, Réseau réussite Montréal, Le Quartier des spectacles, Espace pour la vie, le Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal, MU and Sun Youth just to name a few. So far in 2017 Sun Youth assisted close to 470 children from some 30 Montreal elementary and high schools by providing them with material assistance (school supplies, new clothing) while also providing their families with emergency services such as free eyeglasses, access to medication and dental care.