(Montreal) Operation Sac à Dos, which has been providing school supplies to children in need since 2002, is expanding its service offering across the province.
For his 23e presentation, the Regroupement Partage initiative will extend to Longueuil, Gatineau, Sainte-Agathe (for the entire Laurentians) and the MRC de l’Assomption. Last year, the operation left the island of Montreal for the first time by organizing activities in Longueuil and Saint-Jérôme.
Additional backpacks will also be distributed in school service centres in Quebec, Sherbrooke, Laval and Val-d’Or.
The general director of Regroupement Partage, Audrey Renaud, explains that many other regions have expressed interest in the program, but were unable to attend this year due to a lack of funds.
It costs a lot of money to buy for that many children and it’s not supported by the government. We rely solely on private donors, so we really have to take it one bite at a time.
Audrey Renaud, general director of the Partage Group
Mme Renaud nevertheless announced that next year, the territories of Sherbrooke, Abitibi and the Capitale-Nationale will be added to the list.
In addition to expanding its territory, Operation Backpack is increasing the number of school items provided in its bags, going from 23 to 30. These include lunch boxes, pencils and a multitude of objects based on the supply lists requested by most schools in the province.
This year, 10,000 bags will be distributed, for a market value of more than $750,000. In 2023, 7,400 children received school supplies.
New backpacks are not just given away, the child can actually choose the one they like from those available. “Often it is the first time that the child can choose something they like and new; just that for them is so rewarding and it gives them back a certain dignity,” notes Mme Renaud.
All the organizations hosting the distributions have the obligation to take care of the family once they arrive on site. Emergency food aid groups, homework help and many others are on site. “Everything the family will need throughout the year, they will be able to see the people on site with the aim of not coming back the following year, because they will have had the necessary tools to get out of precariousness,” she hopes.
An increasingly widespread problem
The organization’s clientele has expanded “tremendously,” says M.me Renaud, who is beginning to see even owners resorting to his services because of the increase in mortgage costs.
According to Statistics Canada, 13% of children were living in a financially precarious environment in 2020. In these situations, it is often school supplies that are put aside first, says Mme Renaud.
“You have to understand that when a parent is living in a situation as difficult as poverty, they’re going to cut back on all the expenses that can be compressed, everything that’s not rent and mortgage,” she explains, “so expenses related to food, groceries, school enrollment and everything else, that’s going to go through the wringer.”
She adds that 34% of children in a precarious environment do not finish secondary school and enter the job market more quickly to contribute to the family budget.
Demand is increasing particularly with the arrival of immigrants in the province, explains Caroline Bernier, general director of Hop! La rentrée, which distributes school supplies on the South Shore, in Lachine and in Laval.
When immigrants arrive, they need help for about two years before they can fly on their own. Their reality is that when they arrive, they don’t know how it works, where to buy the equipment and how to proceed, that’s a lot of what I’m told internally.
Caroline Bernier, general manager of Hop!
In addition to the 2,200 children that their organization plans to help this back-to-school season, they will offer 150 bags to the Patriotes school board to support migrants who arrive during the year.
“The stores are crowded at the moment, but once the school year starts everything disappears, there aren’t many things left and they’re very expensive,” recalls M.me Bernier.