Funding shortfall threatens Aylmer back-to-school drive

The Lois Boucher Foundation’s annual Back-to-School initiative, which supports children in need across Aylmer, is facing a significant funding shortfall ahead of the September 2025 school year. Each year, approximately 350 children benefit from the program, receiving essential school supplies to start the academic year on solid footing.

This year marks the first time the initiative has experienced major budget cuts. In previous years, Centraide Outaouais provided more than half the financial support for the program. Organizers have confirmed that this funding has been significantly reduced, prompting a community-wide appeal for donations.

The Foundation had set a goal of raising $6,500 to cover outstanding program costs. Unfortunately, as of August 13, less than $4,000 has been received, leaving an estimated shortfall of $5,000–$7,000, depending on the final quantity of supplies needed for participating families. The supplies most in demand at this stage are school bags, lunch boxes, Canada notebooks, erasers, highlighters, and art aprons. Running shoes and other standard school items are also welcomed. While all donations are sincerely appreciated, these are the items most often requested by families.

Although the foundation accepts donations throughout the year to support ongoing community needs, all backpacks and school supplies for this year’s Back-to-School initiative must be received no later than August 18. Distribution will take place from Tuesday, August 19, to Friday, August 22, between 9 am and 7 pm each day. Donations received after the August 18 deadline will still be used to support other programs, such as the upcoming snowsuit initiative, which provides winter coats for children at a cost of $25 per child, with the remaining 75% covered by the government and Centraide Outaouais. The deadline to sponsor a child’s snowsuit is September 4, when orders must be placed.

“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity we’ve already seen from the community,” said Ibrahim Diallo, community coordinator at the Deschênes Community Centre. “But we still have a long way to go. Every backpack, every lunch box, every dollar makes a real difference for these children. We just need that final push before August 18.”

Supplies can be dropped off at the Deschênes Community Centre, 55 Chemin Vanier, where Diallo can provide tax receipts, or at the Aylmer Bulletin office in the Galeries Aylmer, where a collection bin will be placed to gather contributions from the community. The initiative is coordinated by Kathleen Byrne on behalf of the Lois Boucher Foundation, in partnership with Aylmer’s network of community centres. For more details, contact Byrne at 613-292-7279 or Diallo at the Deschênes Community Centre at 819-684-7999.