Applications for UWNEMN’s Step Into School program are due July 21st.
The back-to-school celebration takes qualified students shopping for new properly fit athletic shoes for the coming school year.
“Through Step Into School we hope to not only alleviate a financial burden for local families but play a role in building confidence in our local youth as they walk through the school doors this fall,” said UWNEMN Community Impact Director Crystal Royer.
Step Into School will this year take place August 13th and will begin with dinner and games at Backus Community Center. Local emergency personnel will provide children rides to Ronnings for school shopping.
To qualify, students must be enrolled to attend school in Koochiching County (K-12) and must live in households under the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) guidelines. The guidelines were set using the United for ALICE in Minnesota report that UWNEMN helped release last fall providing data on the number of Minnesota families and individuals earning above the federal poverty guidelines but still struggling to afford basics.
“The minute we had this data, we knew we had to put it to use to ensure our programs are available to ALICE families,” Royer said. “This time of year can bring added pressure for families, and Step into School offers relief while creating a positive uplifting experience for children and caregivers alike.”
This is the third year UWNEMN has partnered with Backus, Ronnings, International Falls Fire Department, International Falls Police Department, Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection on a back-to-school shoe event.
“There’s something special about seeing families with school-age kids coming together to share the excitement of getting ready for the new school year,” said Backus Community Center Executive Director Lois Lundin. “Backus is so happy to partner with the United Way to make this program happen in our community!”
Step Into School is offered free in Koochiching County with support from Essentia Health, MIDCO Foundation, Packaging Corporation of America (PCA), TruStar Federal Credit Union, Border Bank, Rainy Lake Gazette, Ruby’s Pantry Benevolence Fund, and Sanford Health.