Back-to-School Backpacks Filled With Supplies and Hope for the New Year
New Report Highlights Rising Costs Associated with the Beginning of the School Year
(Photo Credit: Donte Lassiter)
Virginia Beach, VA – Affordable Virginia joined New Jerusalem Ministries in their annual school supply giveaway this past Sunday. With over 40 backpacks filled and a teacher’s list fulfilled, we know that more than a few students are off to a great start.
(Photo Credit: Donte Lassiter)
This event also served as an opportunity to raise awareness around rising back-to-school costs and the impact of tariffs, as working families bear the brunt of these policies.
In conjunction with Dr. Adam Jorring, lead economist at Cardinal40 Strategies and Assistant Professor of Finance at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Affordable Virginia also released a report finding that this year, an average family in Hampton Roads’ budget will have 62% of their discretionary income going towards school supplies. These are items that each child needs to succeed in the classroom, and with tariffs taking effect, many families will see the price of necessities continue to rise. With this Administration’s proposed tariffs, families could see a 60% increase in the cost of back-to-school supplies.
(Photo Credit: Donte Lassiter)
“As a teacher at a Title I school, I see the difference it makes when a village takes action,” said Exzavier Johnson, first-grade teacher in Virginia Beach. “I’m grateful that this year, my village includes Affordable Virginia and New Jerusalem Ministries – because of their generosity, my classroom will be better equipped to meet the needs of each of my students. But it shouldn't be this way. I shouldn’t have to post an Amazon wishlist and cross my fingers that people will find it and pick me over all the other teachers doing the same thing. Their students are just as deserving, and it’s obscene that politicians in Washington, like Rep. Jen Kiggans, aren’t taking steps to fully fund education for every child. Rep. Kiggans is not a part of our village.”
(Photo Credit: Donte Lassiter)
“Back-to-school shopping for my rising first grader costs hundreds of dollars this year, on top of groceries and rent,” said Alaina Neely, Navy Veteran and mother of two in Virginia Beach. “These aren’t even luxury items. Kids grow, they need new shoes and shirts every year, sometimes every few months, and it’s hard to keep up. That’s not even including replacing the glue sticks and crayons that their teachers are going to ask for in January. Policies that drive up these costs just make it harder for young families like mine who want to make sure our kids are prepared as they can be heading into the new school year. It's tough.”
(Photo Credit: Donte Lassiter)
“Aside from the holidays, back-to-school shopping is the biggest shopping time of the year, and working families are feeling the pinch these new tariffs are adding to their budgets,” said Emily Yeatts, Affordable Virginia Campaigns Director. “We know that teachers are already underpaid, and posting Amazon wishlists has become par for the course for many, especially new teachers, each year. Even when supplies are supposed to be discounted, we’re seeing much higher prices this year. With inflationary tariffs, even a box of pencils could skyrocket. It’s just cruel. It does nothing but add to the stress and burden on working families – this isn’t any kind of win for Americans, and definitely not Virginians, and instead of fighting to lower costs for working families and meeting with her constituents, Rep. Kiggans is busy hobnobbing with billionaires.”
(Photo Credit: Donte Lassiter)
(Photo Credit: Donte Lassiter)
(Photo Credit: Donte Lassiter)