KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — On Monday, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs teamed up with more than 100 volunteers to pack a record number of school supply bags. It’s all part of the mayor’s seventh annual ‘School Mania’ event.
School supplies can be expensive. A back-to-school shopping study from savings.com says parents could spend an average of $628 per child on new school clothing and supplies, putting a strain on the family budget. When the school year rolls around, it can be an exciting time for kids. For many parents, it also brings financial stress.
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“I mean it could range from 50 to $100, depending on what you need. You had different folders, you have the composition books for different classes, the crayons. Just even the small things add up,” said Shawntae Brisendine, a mom volunteering to pack supplies. “All the supplies that you’re going to get every year, you’re paying classroom fees, you’re going to buy your school clothes, all these resources and stuff.”
Community events like School Mania are making a big difference in the local community, offering relief to families struggling to afford the basics for a successful school year…