It's a feeling familiar to many kids: a daunting fear that your clothes, shoes or school kit just won't measure up on your first day back at school.
That feeling is all the more disheartening for kids from underprivileged families, and some abandon school altogether rather than face the taunting that comes with not fitting in.
But this year, families facing financial challenges have hope in Project Love.
The Church on 99-based charity has launched the "back to school backpacks" initiative to ensure impoverished youth face one less hurdle while getting a good education.
Project Love co-ordinators Carmelle Cascanette and Meghan White came up with the idea after seeing a need at the Second Avenue storefront that serves as the charity's headquarters.
"There's grandparents raising their grandchildren, and they just can't afford all this stuff," said Cascanette. "We have one lady who has six kids and she doesn't work. So it was just a huge need that we saw. How are these people able to put all these children back in school?
"For us, a lot of it is for these kids to go back as equals. So when they go back on that first day, they look like every other kid going to school. So that they're equal when they go back to school."
A donation of $75 ensures a child gets a brand new backpack full of school supplies, as well as a pair of pants, a shirt and running shoes.
Project Love launched in early 2010 to help locals dealing with crises or addictions get reintegrated into routine life.
Volunteers give love in many forms, from friendship to help with addictions, from providing food and clothing, to providing direction for those who need it.
In conjunction with other initiatives, such as Stepping Stones, locals can receive items and skills to be re-integrated into a stable lifestyle.
And sometimes, said Cascanette, people come into the Project Love store just to talk.
The downtown store is often buzzing with locals dropping in to hang out or to pick up the free household items the charity provides thanks to local donations.
"We're busy every time we open with just helping people with food with furniture and with kitchen supplies, tons of clothing, whatever they need," said Cascanette.
And just by asking around, the co-ordinators have already found numerous back-to-school backpack takers," she said.
"We have right from Grade 1 to Grade 12 already signed up."
The charity is also always in need of household items such as pots, pans and furniture suitable for a small studio suite such as beds, dressers, couches and chairs.
Locals wishing to donate should call Carmelle Cascanette at 604 815-0190, Meghan White at 604 815-9735, or the Church on 99 at 604 815-4673.
Donors can also drop by the Project Love store at 38054 Second Ave. during its hours of operation, Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday night from 6 to 8 p.m.
