“Although anticipation for a new school year can mean excitement, it can also mean anxiety for many families in the Pontiac, many of whom live below the poverty line. By donating to the drive you can help provide families in our region . . .

with the certainty of knowing that they will have the essentials that they need,” wrote Laura Ray, one of the organizers of Angel Tree.

“Basically, our goal is to provide children and adolescents in need with the necessary food, personal hygiene products, school supplies and anything that they need to start off the school year and prepare them for a successful school year,” said Ray.

She said that studies show that students who start the school year off with their basic needs met are more likely to succeed than those who do not.

This is the first time Angel Tree, which typically asks for donations to provide children with Christmas presents, has run this back-to-school program.

Any parent or guardian in need with children under 17 can be nominated to receive donations from the back-to-school program.

“Basically, the way that it works is that if you are nominating a family, you provide us with their name and number and then we contact them to make sure that they actually want to participate. It started August 5, and it’s going to run until August 23,” said Ray, however she cautioned that August 23 is not a firm deadline and families can still be nominated afterwards.

Ray said the area they plan on covering goes from Quyon to Fort-Coulonge and then northwards to places like Otter Lake; an overall area which includes about 13 schools in total.

In terms of what kind of need there is for this kind of help in the Pontiac, Ray said: “Basing it on our Christmas toy drive that we did in 2021 we had 50 children from 20 families from across the area.”

Donation bins are set up at the entrance of Giant Tiger and at Stedmans V&S in Shawville. People can also send in monetary donations if they prefer via e-transfer.

To nominate a family or inquire about what or how to donate, please contact helpingthemagic@gmail.com, call 819-701-2885 or search helpingthemagic on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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