A volunteer sorts through school supplies donated for the Tools for School program at the United Way offices on August 28. (Photo by Scoot Roblin)

By Charles Lefebvre

Tools for School

More than 600 students to receive backpacks through Tools for School program

Aug 28, 2019 | 12:39 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The local chapter of the United Way is thankful for the community’s help to ensure students in Medicine Hat and the surrounding area are all ready for school next week.

Throughout the month of August, the organization had partnered with Staples, Southland Volkswagen and Southland Kia for its annual Tools for Schools campaign. The campaign sees residents donate backpacks and school supplies, which will be given to students in need at schools in Medicine Hat and the surrounding area.

“As of today, we’re at 620 children, which is at this point, on par with last year,” said Missy Fandrick, executive director of the local chapter of the United Way. “In 2015, we almost had 900, but we have seemed to stabilize over the last few years, so that’s good news.”

Volunteers are hard at work at the United Way office, filling up the backpacks with school supplies such as pencils, binders and scribblers.

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A look at some of the school supplies donated for the Tools for Schools program. (photo by Scott Roblin)

Fandrick says she is amazed at the support from the community for the initiative.

“The community of Medicine Hat and the surrounding area has been phenomenal as it is every year,” she said. “We’ve had our own fair share of hard times in the community, and nobody seems to back away from this program. Even if they don’t have much of their own money, they make sure somebody else has something for the first day back to school.”

Fandrick says the program runs through the year depending about the need at schools, and they are accepting cash and school supply donations at their office (928 Allowance Avenue Southeast).