CareSource helps students across Georgia prepare for a new school year

August marked the return to school for students across Georgia. To set students up for success and ease the financial burden for families, the CareSource Georgia team distributed school supplies at 27 back-to-school events across 16 counties. In all, more than 6,000 school items were donated to families through the effort, including lunch boxes, pens, pencils, first aid kits, backpacks, notebook paper, composition notebooks, water bottles, coloring books and crayons.

Empowering students with the right tools can make a difference in the classroom, but not all families have the means to provide their children with back-to-school supplies. According to the National Retail Foundation, families with children in K-12 spend an average of $864 on back-to-school items. For many families that is an expense they cannot afford. Additionally, 10% of back-to-school shoppers reported they will likely go into debt to pay for school supplies this year, and 20% said they will use “buy now, pay later” services to purchase supplies.

“From Atlanta and Columbus to Rome and Springfield, we crisscrossed the state to provide students in need with supplies to help them feel prepared and confident as they head back to school,” said Collette Harris, manager, community marketing & engagement, CareSource Georgia. “Students who start the year with the proper supplies are better equipped to engage in hands-on learning and studying. We were honored to work alongside community organizations and contribute to almost 30 back-to-school events that made a difference in the lives of students in Georgia.”