MOOSE JAW — As summer holidays draw to a close, one student is hoping to make the transition into a new school year more navigable for Moose Jaw families with a fundraiser to help alleviate the cost burden of fall school supply purchases.
Austin Harvey, now a third-year University of Regina student, launched the Back to School Supplies Fundraiser on Aug. 8 with this goal in mind.
“The fundraiser is meant to help families who are in need, because it’s kind of hard to pay for things now, especially groceries and back to school (supplies),” Harvey said.
“I imagine it’s a lot of stress for families — I know it was for me when I was going to (elementary and high) school.”
The Back to School Supply Fundraiser is now accepting donations. Harvey will accept anything from gently used or new backpacks, indoor shoes, and painting shirts to pencils, markers, and white erasers. A full list is available on the affiliated graphic.
Harvey’s running the fundraiser himself and Kat Owens, his mother, is helping him manage the administrative side of things.
Harvey isn’t new to helping others in need. Back in high school, he organized a bake sale fundraiser in support of TeleMiracle with a teacher mentor and a few classmates that ran for three successful years.
“I have pretty long hair, and back then I had even longer hair,” he said. “So, we did a shave my head (event) at the school to raise money, and we were pretty successful doing that.”
This summer Harvey wanted to do something new to help out.
“I wanted to do something for the community, because I just wanted to do something, and I thought this was something that would be doable and nice,” he said. “When I went to school, I knew that would have been really appreciated.”
To ensure all donations make it into the hands of students who need them most, Harvey is reaching out to school principals to help with distribution.
“The hope is to get enough (supplies) to help a couple schools for what they need specifically,” he said, adding that his ability to help will depend on how many donations he receives.
Harvey now plans to visit several local businesses to inquire about donations, and he’s open to the idea of forming a charitable partnership with anyone who’s interested.
“For the long term, I hope to do this every year and kind of make it a thing,” he said. “I think that would help. And when it gets a name for itself, (I aim to) get a lot more donations and help out the schools in bigger ways.
“Let’s help children succeed by alleviating the burden of purchasing these supplies for their (families), (and) ensuring a more productive and less hectic back-to-school year,” he wrote.
To donate, Harvey is planning a pickup and drop-off system that will depend on the level of interest he receives. If successful, his goal is to pick up supplies during a batched run on Sundays.
You can also make an e-transfer donation by reaching out, and Harvey said 100 per cent of these proceeds will be used to purchase additional school supplies.
To contact Austin Harvey, text or call 306-631-4419.
You can also email him at Harvey.Austin2004@gmail.com or reply to the Aug. 8 post by Kat Owens on 'MJ Talks!' Both Harvey and Owens will accept direct messages through Facebook.
The Back to School Supply Fundraiser is expected to last until the start of the 2024-2025 school year.
