Back-2-School program getting La Crosse kids prepared for school

It’s that time of year again, where several organizations in the La Crosse community help students Pre-K-12 get ready for their first day of school.

The Coulee Region Back-2-School program plans on helping about 1,400 students, whose parents or guardians might not be able to afford items on the school supply list or school clothing.

On top of that, it’s going to help get students ear and eye checks, teeth sealants, immunizations, haircuts and more.

To make a contribution for Back-2-School click here.

Lori Morton-Lockley with Mid-West Family Broadcasting in La Crosse said it’s often as simple as a pair of new shoes or shorts, since the child grew during the summer.

“The U.S. Department of Education says it costs $785, on average, to send a kid to school, which is crazy,” Morton-Lockley said. “If you are struggling, by any means, it gets even harder.”

The goal for the group is to raise $5,000 minimum to buy all of the expected school supplies necessary.

Previous plans of letting citizens buy the items and dropping them off proved to be difficult.

“What we found is we had hundreds of folders, but not the things we really needed,” Morton-Lockley said. “We hope with the one account we can buy in big bulks which we weren’t able to do in the past.”