The Mustard Seed Street Church’s Fair Start for Kids program saw a ‘remarkable surge’ this year, leaving a waitlist for the first time.

The Fair Start for Kids program provides essential school supplies to families and children facing financial struggles with the start of the new year.

Each registered family receives a box of supplies including workbooks, pencils, pencil box, crayons and other essentials, as well as a new backpack and pair of running shoes.

“What else could we ask for? We just have to go to school, that’s it and he’s ready to go,” Bernie Manluyang, a single mother of 9-year-old son using the program, said.

Manluyang told CHEK News back-to-school is incredibly expensive, adding it can be hard to afford as rent, groceries and other bills continue to rise.

“It’s quite ex

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