SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Heading back to school adds up for families.
The National Retail Federation is expecting a household to spend $875 this year on things like clothing, supplies, and electronics.
An annual giveaway will help families get some of the essentials ahead of the school year.
Totes and boxes were full of underwear and socks on Friday, ready to be handed out to kids for free on Saturday.
Darcy Jensen is the executive director of Prairie View Prevention Services.
She started the giveaway more than 20 years ago after noticing a need while working in Sioux Falls schools.
“I started hearing from teachers, school secretaries, counselors, and administrators that kids were maybe not going out for recess, maybe not wanting to go to gym, just kind of acting out. And when we started looking at what’s going on with these kids, many of them, maybe they had one sock or no socks. Maybe they had no underwear,” Darcy Jensen said.
On Friday, Darcy and her husband Kevin were setting up for the 24th annual Celebrating Families Back to School Fair.
“It’s a labor of love,” Kevin Jensen said.
And it’s helping families fill the gaps.
“Little boys’ boxers, we’re talking $15-16, and the larger sizes we’re talking $16-18 for one package. I had three boys. What if you have three boys that need to go back to school? We’re talking about just for underwear, $60, and now we still have to get socks and we still need all those school supplies,” Jensen said.
Several organizations will also be one hand to help families as they get back into the school routine.
“What we’re trying to do is let them know the community cares,” Jensen said.
The giveaway is at Faith Lutheran Church on Cliff Avenue.
The event run from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Kids receiving underwear and socks must be present, along with a parent or guardian.
