Timmins students get free back to school supplies

It was like Christmas in the summer during a ‘back to school backpack’ giveaway at the Timmins Friendship Centre Aug. 20.
More than 120 Aboriginal students from junior kindergarten through high school received either a backpack filled with school supplies or essential school supplies.
The back to school backpack program is in its seventh year of operation and helps children to go back to school with the required school supplies.
“It is a yearly event which Ontario Power Generation as well as other contributors give us finances,” Kirk Fournier, literacy coordinator of the Friendship Center, said. “We purchase as many backpacks with school supplies as we possibly can and give them to less fortunate kids so that they can have decent supplies for when they go back to school.”
Meghan, a Grade 7 student at O’Gorman Intermediate Catholic School was happy to receive her backpack, as was her friend, Naomi.
“I am happy that I have my backpack. I got crayons, pencils, notebooks, a binder, whiteout, pens, highlighters – everything I need.”
Naomi added: “I am really excited for school,”
In conjunction with the backpack giveaway, local community members were treated to a community barbeque.
“The weather couldn’t be any better and we had a good turnout today,” Fournier said.
School started Aug. 30 for students in the Timmins District.