As Wisconsin families prepare to send their kids back to school, Opportunity Wisconsin is launching back-to-school supply drives in La Crosse, Eau Claire, and Kenosha to help ease the burden of rising costs driven by Republican-backed tariffs and cuts to health care.

The drives, running throughout August in partnership with Climate Power, the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC), Americans for Healthy Families, and the Hmong PTA in Eau Claire, will collect pencils, black pens, highlighters, printer paper, binders, notebooks, tissues, hand sanitizer, and backpacks for students in each community.

Donations may be made at the following locations throughout August:

  • La Crosse: August 13 – August 30. Drop off at Larson’s General, 509B Main St, La Crosse, WI 54601, or Pearl Street Books, 323 Pearl St, La Crosse, WI 54601 (week of 8/24 only).
     
  • Eau Claire:  August 1 – August 20. Drop off at Acoustic Cafe, 505 S Barstow St, Eau Claire, WI 54701.
     
  • Kenosha and Mt. Pleasant: August 1 – August 28. Drop off at Union Park Tavern, 4520 8th Ave, Kenosha, WI 53140, or La Taquiza Guadalajara, 2343 Mead St, Mt. Pleasant, WI 53403.

Wisconsin families are facing a squeeze on multiple fronts this back-to-school season. Republican tariffs have driven up the price of everyday goods, including the very supplies kids need for the classroom, while the Republican Tax Law’s health care cuts are expected to strip coverage from Wisconsinites and drive up costs. Republican cuts to SNAP are also squeezing families this back-to-school season as millions of children are expected to lose access to free school meals.

These policies are leaving families with even less room in their budgets to cover necessities as the average American household has had to pay $3,500 in extra costs this year because of policies passed by Republicans in Congress. Recent analysis found that pricing increases have driven up the cost of back-to-school shopping by 11 percent this year. 

“No parent should have to choose between buying their kid a backpack and paying their health insurance premium, but that’s the reality Republicans in Congress have created for families across Wisconsin,” said Meghan Roh, Program Director of Opportunity Wisconsin. “Tariffs are making everyday items like pencils and binders more expensive, and at the very same time, Republicans are ripping away health care from tens of thousands of Wisconsinites to pay for tax breaks for the ultrarich. We’re grateful to our partners and community members who are stepping up to make sure kids are ready for back-to-school this year.”