Back to School
Between working full time and raising her 7-year-old daughter, back to school shopping is a task Lucky Giron can barely fit in each year.
Getting to pick up supplies from the Butler YMCA Wednesday evening saved her not only money, but it saved her time as well.
“It's mostly a time thing for me,” said Giron, who is from Butler. “It's so helpful, it's so thoughtful.”
The Butler YMCA had its second-ever back-to-school giveaway Wednesday, during which kindergarten students and sixth-graders could find just about anything they would need for the upcoming school year. It was all laid out on tables in the lobby, and parents could stop by and just scoop up what they needed.
The YMCA collected donations of supplies over the summer, with many people opting to simply drop off packed bookbags.“It always amazes me how many people help,” said Heidi Nicholls Bowser, membership & healthy living director of the Butler YMCA. “A lot of people came and donated backpacks that are fully stocked.”Nicholls Bowser said the branch had its first giveaway in 2019, which ended up being more successful — and needed — than expected.“We were surprised because we had around 100 families,” Nicholls Bowser said of the 2019 distribution. “We're trying to grow it and get more partners each year.”
Among the biggest donors to the YMCA were Joe and Jackie Black from the Seven Fields branch of Union Home Mortgage, who donated 41 backpacks to the YMCA, which Nicholls Bowser said was greatly appreciated.According to Nicholls Bowser, the supplies were available to anyone, but most of the recipients were parents picking up their children from the Y.Brittany Irvin, a mother of four elementary-aged kids from Butler who were previously members of the YMCA, said the cost of school supplies adds up. Having a place to get free supplies to round out the last of their shopping list was helpful.“Some people can't just get all the supplies their kids need for school,” Irvin said. “I probably spend more on my kids than I do on rent. They're worth it, though.”Although the end of summer vacation and the start of school is a drag for some children, Irvin said hers were excited to pick up their supplies.“They were asking all day, 'Mom, when are we going to go?'” Irvin said.
