Hundreds of Brantford children will head back to school with brand new backpacks and supplies this year thanks to a donation from Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall.
Nuttall visited Brantford City Hall Friday to deliver 750 backpacks filled with school essentials, a gesture aimed at supporting families struggling with the financial pressures of the new school year.
He was welcomed by Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis, alongside Community Services and Social Development staff who will distribute the supplies to local families.
“This act of generosity will have a lasting impact on hundreds of children and youth in our community,” said Mayor Davis.
“In times of challenge and uncertainty, the importance of municipalities supporting one another is brought into sharper focus.”
The initiative is part of PIE Education, a program co-founded by Nuttall that has distributed more than 27,500 backpacks to students across Ontario since 2010.
The organization has worked in Barrie, Simcoe County, Muskoka, Ottawa, Sudbury, and Toronto, where it partnered with Toronto Maple Leafs star John Tavares and the John Tavares Foundation to reach children living in Rexdale.
Nuttall said bringing the program to Brantford was a natural extension of its mission.
“Back-to-school season should be filled with excitement and opportunity, but for too many kids it begins with uncertainty,” he said.
“This year, we’re proud to expand into Brantford, making sure more students start the year with confidence.”
The backpacks will be distributed in the coming days through Brantford’s social service programs, ensuring that children in need begin the school year with the tools necessary to succeed.
More information about PIE Education is available at www.pieeducation.ca.
