With the start of school only a couple weeks away, many families in the greater Niles area are wondering where they will get the money to purchase school supplies and backpacks for their children.

A lot of families simply just cannot afford it.

“There are some children that have been using the same back pack year after year and others don’t even have backpacks,” said Jenni Johnson, a Niles parent. “I remember what it was like to get that new stuff before school. It is something children look forward to. We want to make sure every child has that feeling and has what they need to start the school year.”

To alleviate this issue, the Niles Salvation Army will be giving away free school supplies and backpacks beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19.

A parent or guardian needs to bring a valid picture identification card, social security cards for everyone in the home and documentation showing where the child will be attending school this fall.

Last year, approximately 300 children benefitted from the backpack giveaway.

“The effort is to put backpacks and supplies in the hands and on the backs of all the kids in the area that need them,” said Jan Nowak, of the Niles Salvation Army. “We want to alleviate some of the financial burden for families and give kids some new fun supplies.”

The Salvation Army relies on community donations to make the program work. People can drop off school supplies and backpack donations at several different locations: Salvation Army (424 N. 15th St., Niles), Tyler Automotive (1100 S. 11th St., Niles and 1810 S. 11th St., Niles) and Old National Bank (1903 S. 11th St., Niles).

Nowak thanked Johnson for her efforts in promoting the program, including getting Tyler Automotive and Old National Bank to serve as drop-off locations.

Johnson said the backpack program received monetary donations from Old National Bank and Modineer.

“We hope to give a backpack to every child,” Johnson said.

Although donations will be accepted all year long, Nowak said the target date for dropping off school supplies at the Salvation Army is prior to Tuesday.

Johnson said she would be collecting the items from the other locations Saturday.

“When we begin distributing we keep going until everything is gone,” Nowak said. “The more supplies we have, the more we can serve. Donating supplies is a great way for the public to do a wee bit to give back.”