'It's a struggle': Students face difficult return to school with rising cost of living

Callie is taking a look at her school supplies as she prepares to start Grade 12 in a few weeks.

"It's a struggle," says the 17-year-old from Sudbury. "All my stuff is really oldit's probably going to break soon."

Getting new books, clothes and materials won't be easy, though, as money is tight.

"No one works in my family," she said.

CBC has agreed not to use her last name because of the stigma attributed to living in poverty.

Many students in the regionface similar situations, according to United Way North East Ontario.

"We've heard a lot about children not being equipped to go back to school, from schools themselves, from parent groups or different organizations," saidexecutive director Mary Lou Hussak.

"Some parents are having to choose between putting food on the table or getting clothes, shoes and backpacks for their kids."

Canada's annual inflation rate fell to 2.7 per cent in June,down from 2.9 per cent in May, according to the latest report. However, the inflation rate for groceries accelerated for the second straight month to 2.1 per cent, after mostly falling since January 2023, when prices rose 11.4 per cent annually.

To helpfamilies in Timmins, North Bay and Sudbury as they prepare for the school year,United Way North East Ontario is launching a pilot program.

Under the program, a student is matched with a volunteer and a parent and givenmoney to go shopping for a couple of items.

"It's also teaching financial literacy. They have a budget and they get to shop within it," said Hussak.

Backpacks as a good starting point

Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall saidthese types of initiatives can make a difference. He was in Greater Sudbury on Tuesday to deliver 2,000 backpacks as part of the initiative known as PIE: Providing Instruments for Excellence.

"Going back to school was really difficult for me as a kid," he said.

"On birthdays and Christmas, you celebrate behind closed doors as family, but when you're going back to school, everyone's like opening these gifts altogether in the classroom.

"It became a really difficult thing for my own confidence and self-esteem inside of school."

He believesfocusing on one back-to-school essential like a backpack is a good place to start.

"It frees up resources for clothing, being involved in extracurricular activities or programs," he said. "There's a bit of a domino effect."