According to the National Retail Federation, the average family does. They estimate that at the beginning of the school year, the average family spends more than $600 on children's clothing, back to school supplies, and electronics. School supplies account for approximately $90 of this total and clothes around $230. This year as many families deal with concerns over the economy's slow recovery, the National Retail Federation estimates that parents will be spending less. This got me thinking, if the average family feels stressed by back to school expenses and finds it necessary to spend over $300 per year on back to school goods, this time must be quite a struggle for students whose parents have a less than average income.

In Spotsylvania County approximately 11% of children under the age of 18 live below the Federal Poverty Line. There are approximately 23,000 students who attend Spotsylvania County Public Schools according to county data. This means that it is very likely that around 2,500 students in our county will have to go without basic school supplies this year. Probably more if you take into consideration that the federal poverty guideline for a family of four for 2013 is $23,550, and that many families who make a little more than this still may not be able to buy all of the school supplies required for each child at the beginning of a new school year.

Want to help? Parrish Learning Zone in conjunction with Spotsylvania County Schools and Century 21 Adventure Redwood are currently holding a Stuff the Bus School Supplies Drive to benefit students across Spotsylvania County. The supplies will be distributed through the Spotsylvania County Schools Treasure House which served nearly 700 homeless students and over 2000 students and family members last year. Place your school supplies donation in the collection box at Parrish Learning Zone, Century 21 Adventure Redwood, Snow Library, Giant at Harrison Crossing, the Treasure House (located behind Massaponax High School), or the Southpoint Walmart. Attend our Stuff the Bus event on this Saturday August 17th to donate school supplies to needy children, hang out with Buzzy and the B-Crew from B 101.5, and help us fill an entire bus with supplies for those in need!
     
   What: Stuff the Bus School Supplies Drive
     

   When: Saturday August 17th 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
     

   Where: Southpoint WalMart 10001 Southpoint Pkwy

-Nina Parrish, M.Ed.

Parrish Learning Zone, LLC  
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