The Inn of the Good Shepherd will make sure local students have the tools they need for the school year during its annual back to school backpack program.
Backpacks will be distributed on Saturday at Temple Baptist Church from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Parents are asked to bring proof of income or a food bank card, an Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program slip, and identification for each child.
"The great thing with our back to school program is it helps provide all the good tools for learning that children need," said Executive Director Myles Vanni. "We have backpacks with age or grade specific items. So there will be crayons in it for the Kindergarten kids but those high school students are getting scientific calculators."
Items provided will be school specific and, unlike last year, masks will not be included in backpacks.
Vanni said there was an increase in demand last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We're anticipating roughly about the same number this year so we've prepared 1,000 backpacks for distribution."
Parents unable to pick up a backpack on Saturday can attend Inn of the Good Shepherd between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on September 1 and September 2.
The backpack program started in 2009.