The Windsor-Essex Children's Aid Foundation is asking the public for help.
Despite holding a stuff-a-bus fundraiser this past weekend, the organization is still short for its annual Back to School Supply Drive.
Manager of Community Outreach Tina Gatt says they've got a record high 951 children in need of a backpack filled with school supplies, but they've come about $8,000 short of covering costs.
She says the need continues to grow each year.
"Many of the families that we deal with also struggle financially," says Gatt. "We can all appreciate how much it costs nowadays for a backpack and to fill those with supplies it can be quite a challenge for some of our families whether they have one child or multiple children."
According to Gat, the program helps put kids in a spot to succeed.
"I think the need continues to grow and this is just a wonderful opportunity for us to have a real, positive impact with the families that we work with and these children get to start school positioned for success just like their peers."
If you'd like to help the program, donations can be made at the Staples store on Walker Rd.
This is the eighth year for the school supply drive which supports students from kindergarten to post-secondary.
— with files from AM800's Rob Hindi