For Dolly Hicks, back-to-school season can be particularly stressful. As a single mom, buying new supplies, let alone clothes and shoes, can be burdensome.
Hicks said she remembers the stigma her daughter faced when she couldn't afford to buy the girl a computer.
"We found it was pretty tough because she pretty much got told off - degraded verbally - and I ended up having to speak to her teacher," said Hicks.
A computer notwithstanding, even pencils, notebooks, markers and crayons, all required utensils in most elementary-school classrooms, take their toll on wallets.
Fiona Keats from the N.D.G. Food Depot has seen the effect on many families, particularly those with several children.
"The lists that we're getting add up to at least $100 per student and an additional $60 to $80 that has to be paid to the school. If you've got three kids, that can add up to $600," said Keats.
While the food bank generally helps put meals on the table, it also helps put supplies in backpacks.
Last year, the N.D.G. Food Depot helped over 300 families with their back-to-school needs, and it expects to help even more in this recessionary year.
"People are counting on us this year I think," said Keats, a difficult position with supplies as scarce as they are at the moment.
"Right now we have maybe two boxes of supplies left from last year so we're really at nothing," said Keats.
Anyone with supplies to donate may call the N.D.G. Food Depot at 514-483-4680 or to simply make a drop-off at 2121 Oxford Ave. in N.D.G.
