Operation Backpack Sees Wagga Kids Ready to Return to School

Conference Members were on hand recently, to make sure that struggling families in Wagga Wagga would be able to send their kids back to school well-equipped.

Equipping children to return to school is an expensive time for families. This is magnified when there are several children in the family attending school. On average a new school bag and supplies costs around $80 – $100 per child, and that is before you add in the cost of school uniforms and shoes.

The annual campaign ‘Operation Backpack’ took place again this year at Wagga Wagga Marketplace and saw more than $6,000 worth of back-to-school supplies donated by the broader community, to help families in need.

The Society is a key supporter of Operation Backpack and local Conferences are pivotal to its success. Following the 2022 campaign, Conferences in Wagga Wagga collected, sorted, and distributed the donations to families in need. In total, 90 backpacks were distributed, fully kitted out with lunch boxes, drink bottles, stationery, school supplies, and additional stationery packs put together by the Members.

‘We are proud to partner with the Wagga Wagga Marketplace to be able to take a bit of the stress out of back-to-school time and help families juggle the ever-rising costs’, says Wagga Wagga Regional President, Carole Parkinson.

Wagga Wagga Marketplace Centre Manager, Maria Sharman, acknowledged and thanked ‘the fantastic volunteers from St Vincent de Paul Society, who will be distributing the donated supplies to local families over the coming weeks’.