PARSIPPANY — You don’t need a fancy calculator to figure out that back-to-school shopping can put a major strain on your family’s finances. The National Retail Federation reports that the average family spends close to $700 on back-to-school shopping every year. Between the costs of clothes, backpacks and school supplies, it’s easy to see how it all adds up.
But sometimes there’s not enough room in the family budget to buy even the basics for students. With children living in low-income and impoverished households, many parents will struggle to buy every item on the list. They will have to make unfair choices like whether to buy school supplies or groceries, or the electric bill or needed prescriptions.
For families who need them, free school supplies are available through Parsippany Human Services. Any Parsippany student needing school supplies is suggested to call (973) 263-7163.
They have many of the essentials available: backpacks, notebooks, pens, pencils, markers, glue and many other items.
The Parsippany Human Services is located at 1130 Knoll Road.