ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Back to school season is just around the corner meaning parents are shopping at stores for school supplies.
A survey done by Deloitte found on average parents will spend $519 per child on back to school shopping.
With children almost 20 years apart, Tammy Strub, has been shopping for school supplies for a long time.
She said over the years what’s needed has changed.
“With my older kids they didn’t get to use calculators. Now, the boxes you buy don’t include the calculators,” Strub said.
Strub said calculators tend to be one of the priciest items on the list off school supplies.
“If they’re in advanced math, it’s anywhere from $70 to $90 depending on which calculator they need, how many digits, what it can handle, how many functions,” Strub said. “It can be expensive.”
With jobs as both a mother and teacher, Jeanine Shumaker buys a lot of supplies, so she said searching for deals is key.
“I just bargain hunt. Anytime that there are 10 cents notebooks, or markers for a quarter or colored pencils for a quarter or anything like that,” Shumaker said. “There’s always sales.”
Shumaker said schools are aware of costs and they do their best to help out.
“I know today, when I was helping out with registration at Riverdahl, they had backpacks all set and ready with school supplies for students,” Shumaker said. “So the lists might be longer, but there’s ways around it.”
Rockford Illinois Police Officers Association PB&PA Unit 6 are giving back to local families gearing up for the new school year.
Each backpack will be stuffed with supplies, including a notebook, folder, pencils, glue sticks and a pencil box.
Wednesday, August 14th, kids enrolled in kindergarten through sixth grade are invited pick up free backpacks.
The first giveaway is going tot be held at Living Faith Tabernacle Annex located at 1124 4th Avenue, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The second giveaway will go from 6 to 8 p.m. at Rockford Police District 1, located at 1045 West State St.
In total, about 350 backpacks will be handed out.
Children must be present at the time to receive backpacks.
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