Back-to-school costs climb as Arizona families look for ways to save

By Stacy Mantle
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Between school supplies, clothing, technology, extracurricular fees and transportation costs, preparing students for a new school year can add up quickly.

Financial experts say planning ahead can help families avoid unnecessary debt, while community organizations across Arizona are stepping in with free backpacks, school supplies, health services and other resources.

"If you start early, it gives you a little bit more control because it allows you to spread out the purchases over several weeks instead of paying for everything all at once," said Rachel Caballero, community development and public relations manager for TruWest Credit Union. "That way you can also take advantage of sales, compare prices and help reduce that financial stress."

According to PwC's annual back-to-school survey, families expect to spend an average of $922 this school year, while 47% of parents say they expect to spend more than they did last year. The survey found many parents are shopping earlier to spread expenses over multiple paychecks and take advantage of seasonal sales.

More than notebooks and pencils

Education advocates say the cost of returning to school extends  beyond basic classroom supplies.

Parents often must budget for clothing, calculators, laptops, internet access, activity fees, transportation and school meals, depending on district requirements and family circumstances.

"When we're thinking about going back to school, we kind of just focus on the supplies — the notebooks and the backpacks — but that's only the beginning,” said Caballero. “We've got sports fees, club dues, lunches, classroom snacks, tissues, sanitizer, class parties, spirit days... it's really about more than just the back-to-school costs that we think of." 

She recommends creating a shopping list before making purchases, researching school supply requirements before buying expensive technology and setting a realistic budget that includes expenses beyond notebooks and backpacks, including athletics, transportation, lunches and school activities.

She also recommends that parents join their local “Buy Nothing” group, found on Facebook and other social media platforms.

"Join your local Buy Nothing group on Facebook... families can get water bottles, backpacks and school supplies from people who purchased extra or have items left over from last year," she said.

Communities step in to help

While families work to manage rising expenses, nonprofit organizations, businesses and community groups throughout Arizona are preparing thousands of free backpack and school supply distributions before students return to class.

One of the state's largest events is the 14th annual Phoenix Tools 4 School, scheduled 7-11 a.m. July 25  at American Legion Post 41 in Phoenix. Water and evaporative coolers on site will also be made available to attendees.

Organizers expect thousands of kindergarten through eighth-grade students to attend Arizona's largest backpack and school supply giveaway. Backpacks and supplies will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last, and students must be present to receive them.

"When students have the tools they need, they have the confidence to learn, grow and succeed," Alan "AP" Powell, founder of HeroZona Foundation, said in a statement. "The Tools 4 School drive is about ensuring every child has an equal opportunity to begin the school year prepared."

The event is supported by HeroZona Foundation, APS, SRP, Arizona State University, the Arizona Diamondbacks, Helios Education Foundation and numerous community partners.

Help available across Arizona

Phoenix is far from the only community offering assistance.

"We've already collected all the backpacks and supplies for our July 25 event in collaboration with TruWest and Community Bridges,” said Caballero. “Any Valley family can come. It's first come, first serve, but they can get a backpack full of supplies for their students, plus we'll have more than 30 resource tables."

Lerner & Rowe Gives Back also plans multiple backpack giveaways across Arizona this month, with events scheduled in Mesa, Yuma, Tucson and Glendale. The Glendale event will distribute 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies, with free shoes available for the first 550 students in line. Students must be present, and supplies are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

In Chandler, Operation Back to School will provide backpacks, school supplies, shoes, socks, underwear, haircuts and school uniforms to thousands of students during its July 11 event at Compass Christian Church. Organizers say the annual program relies on hundreds of volunteers and community donations.

Round Room will host its 14th annual School Rocks Backpack Giveaway at 1 p.m. July 26, distributing more than 140,000 free backpacks — valued at more than $3 million — at participating TCC and Wireless Zone stores nationwide, with one backpack available per child while supplies last. The company said the program has provided more than 1.6 million backpacks since it began and will also award 47 students a $250 Visa gift card through its "Golden Ruler" promotion.

"Back-to-school costs continue to put pressure on many families, and something as simple as a backpack can make a meaningful impact," said Scott Moorehead, CEO of Round Room. "We're grateful we can give families one less thing to worry about."

Additional events scheduled across Arizona include free backpack giveaways and resource fairs in Surprise, Goodyear, El Mirage, Tolleson, Mesa, Glendale and Phoenix. Several events also offer free sports physicals, vaccinations, health screenings, haircuts and community resource information, helping families reduce expenses beyond classroom supplies.

"The Arizona Diamondbacks and Honeywell Aerospace believe every child deserves to start the school year with the tools and confidence they need to succeed," said Dustin Payne, senior director of strategic community partnerships and programs for the Arizona Diamondbacks. "Providing backpacks filled with school supplies is one way we can help ease the financial burden on local families while investing in the future of our community."

"We're proud to partner with organizations across the Valley that share our commitment to supporting Arizona's students and helping them begin the school year ready to learn and thrive,” said Payne.

Several organizations encourage families to check eligibility requirements and arrive early, as many events distribute supplies on a first-come, first-served basis until inventory is exhausted.

A regularly updated list of free backpack and school supply events is available through participating community organizations.

Arizona back-to-school assistance events

Most events require students to be present and distribute supplies on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Families should verify details with organizers before attending.

July 9 | East Valley

Time: 5 p.m. until supplies last
Event: Lerner & Rowe Gives Back
Location: Arizona Athletic Grounds, Mesa
Available: Free backpacks filled with school supplies. The first 550 students also receive free shoes while supplies last. Students must be present.

July 10 | West Valley

Time: Needs verification
Event: Back to School Confidence Drive
Location: Surprise
Available: Free clothing, shoes, backpacks, hygiene items and school supplies.

July 11 | West Valley

Time: 8 a.m. – Noon
Event: Cover Arizona Back-to-School Health Fair (D-backs & Honeywell)
Location: Porfirio H. Gonzales Elementary School, Tolleson
Available: Free backpack, school supplies, STEM storybook and pencil pouch while supplies last.

July 11 | Central

Time: 10 a.m. – Noon

July 11 | East Valley

Time: Needs verification
Event: Operation Back to School
Location: Chandler
Available: Backpacks, school supplies, shoes, socks, underwear, school uniforms, haircuts and community resources.

July 11 | Southern Arizona

Time: 2 p.m. until supplies last
Event: Lerner & Rowe Gives Back
Location: Yuma County Fairgrounds
Available: Free backpacks and school supplies.

July 13 | Southern Arizona

Time: 4 p.m. until supplies last
Event: Lerner & Rowe Gives Back
Location: Tucson Convention Center
Available: Free backpacks and school supplies. The first 550 students also receive free shoes while supplies last.

July 17 | West Valley

Time: 4 p.m. until supplies last
Event: Lerner & Rowe Gives Back
Location: Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale
Available: Free backpacks and school supplies. The first 550 students also receive free shoes while supplies last.

July 18 | Central

Time: 9 a.m. – Noon
Event: Desert West Community Center Back-to-School Event (D-backs & Honeywell)
Location: Phoenix
Available: Free backpack, school supplies, STEM storybook and pencil pouch.

July 20 | East Valley

Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Event: Molina Healthcare Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway
Location: Fuller Elementary School, 1975 E. Cornell Drive, Tempe
Available: The first 530 Fuller Elementary school-aged students will receive a free backpack filled with school supplies. The event is open to Fuller Elementary students and their families while supplies last.

July 22 | East Valley

Time: 10 a.m. – Noon
Event: Mesa Public Library Back-to-School Event (D-backs & Honeywell)
Location: Mesa
Available: Free backpack, school supplies, STEM storybook and pencil pouch.

July 25 | East Valley

Time: 8:30 a.m. – Noon
Event: Community Bridges/Mesa Prevention Alliance (D-backs & Honeywell, TruWest Credit Union)
Location: Mesa High School
Available: First come, first served. Free backpacks, school supplies, STEM storybook, pencil pouch and community resources.

July 25 | Central

Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Event: Phoenix Tools 4 School
Location: American Legion Post 41, Phoenix
Available: Arizona's largest backpack and school supply giveaway for K-8 students. Students must be present.

Editor’s note: A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Stacy Mantle
Education Solutions Reporter

smantle@iniusa.org

Meet Stacy
Stacy Mantle is joining the team at Independent Newsmedia, Inc. as an Education Solutions journalist, thanks to a grant from the Arizona Community Collaborative. She has a long history in education that ranges from teaching junior high and middle school to developing curriculum and standards-based assessments.

Community: A longtime advocate for animal welfare, Stacy is deeply involved in rescue efforts and volunteers with several nonprofit organizations.

Random Fact: Once upon a time, she shared her home with a pet coyote and two wolf hybrids. The experiences were wild enough to become the subject of her first book!

Education: She holds a BA in English with a minor in Political Science, a Post-baccalaureate in Secondary Education, and an MBA with a emphasis on Marketing.

Hobbies: In her spare time, Stacy writes fast-paced urban fantasy novels, crafts small-batch artisan soap, and is always up for hiking or off-roading through the Arizona wilderness with her husband of 23 years.