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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Staples employees were stuffing a school bus with backpacks full of school supplies Saturday as part of the store's first school supply drive.

Staples employees Tara Bentley, left, and Raelynn von Allmen hold up backpacks stuffed with school supplies. Staples is holding a school supply drive for Yk kids in need. - Heather Lange/NNSL photo

The national chain has been holding a drive annually for the past six years, but this is the first time the Yellowknife Staples has participated since it opened in 2007.

The drive collects donations and school supplies and distributes them to kids in need in the local community.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Staples had $7,000 worth of donations and staff were hoping to reach their $10,000 goal by Sept. 10, the last day of the drive.

Staples technical consultant Tara Bentley, organizer of the drive, said it is about helping kids feel ready to start a new school year with all the tools necessary to be successful in their education. She added that sometimes kids who don't have school supplies get picked on.

"Kids need the right tools to learn, in my opinion. If kids don't have something, they can be made fun of," said Bentley.

Christine Mann, an employee of Mackay LLP Accounting Firm, volunteered her time to help Staples employees with a fundraising barbecue in the parking lot.

"We wanted to help out and support. We thought it was a great idea," she said.

The proceeds from the barbecue and face painting went to the school drive.

Bentley said the support in town for the event was overwhelming.

"The support in Yellowknife is unbelievable. Even those who can't give are coming down to show their support," said Bentley.

Julie Green, director of Community Relations for YWCA Yellowknife, said 41 kids who live in transitional housing were thrilled to receive backpacks full of school supplies on Monday.

"They were so excited when they arrived," she said. "They didn't have the expectation that anyone would help them with school supplies; they hadn't in the past had that kind of help and they were just genuinely pleased.

"This took away the need for these families to buy school supplies which for some of them would amount to hundreds of dollars because they have three or four children. They now have more money for back to school clothing or for even more basic needs like food."

Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins challenged his fellow politicians to get behind the drive and donate more than $100, the amount Hawkins donated to the school supply drive. Hawkins said he would take the highest donor out to dinner at the Explorer Hotel.

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