DJ Demp Foundation Hosts Annual Back-to-School Supplies Giveaway

• The DJ Demp Foundation hosted its annual school supplies sale.
• They distributed more than 1,000 backpacks with school supplies.
• Watch the video and find out why parents say they appreciate the financial relief.

TRANSCRIPT OF THE BROADCAST:

According to a recent survey, families plan to spend an average of $586 per child on back-to-school shopping this year. A local school supplies giveaway is helping to dent that spending for Leon County parents.

I’m Kenya Cardonne, a neighborhood reporter for Southeast Tallahassee. I’m speaking with neighbors about what this helping hand means to them.

Shanice Hayes, Parent – “Even though it’s July, we’re getting ready for August. We’re getting ready to go back to school.”

It’s that time again: parents have to rush to buy all the school supplies their children need for the new school year. It’s a responsibility that costs quite a bit of money.

Back-to-school spending is expected to reach $39 billion in 2024, according to the National Retail Federation.

To help alleviate the financial strain in Leon County, the DJ Demp Foundation has partnered with local organizations and volunteers to host a “Back 2 School Supply Giveaway.”

Kason Garye, student – “I have school supplies!”

Kason Garye was one of more than 1,000 Leon County students who went to The Moon on Saturday to pick up a package of school supplies.

Vanessa Davis, Parent – “They have notebooks, notebooks, folders, oh wow! Paper, pencils, scissors and this is handy for their school list.”

Parents I spoke to say the free school supplies are a step forward in their fight against inflation, among other problems in life.

Davis – “Bills will take over, health will take over, midlife crisis. So yeah, this is definitely a help for me and for them.”

Nadia Laing, parent: “It’s a huge help because we have three of these kids in our house today, so that’s a lot of school supplies to spend on for the year.”

DJ Demp says the goal of his annual giveaway is.

DJ Demp – “To take the pressure off parents so they don’t have to worry as much and at the same time give children that motivation.”

He tells me that using education in this way for young people also contributes to their academic success.

DJ Demp – “When they get a brand new school bag with all the supplies they need, it helps prepare them so they’re ready to go back to school.”

Davis – “Oh absolutely! If you have the supplies, you can do the job, no excuses. No excuses.”

Looking for more ways to save money on school supplies? Starting Monday, July 29, there will be a two-week tax-free period for back-to-school supplies.