Drives in La Crosse, Eau Claire, and Kenosha collected supplies for local students as tariffs and Republican health care cuts stretch family budgets thin

MADISON, Wis. — Opportunity Wisconsin last week wrapped up back-to-school supply drives in La Crosse, Eau Claire, Kenosha, and Mt. Pleasant, collecting over 100 backpacks, and dozens of school supplies, snacks, and other materials for local students as families across the state struggle with rising costs driven by tariffs and Republican cuts to health care.

The drives, run in partnership with Climate Power, Americans for Healthy Families, the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC), and the Eau Claire Hmong PTA, collected pencils, pens, notebooks, backpacks, and other classroom essentials at drop-off locations across all three communities. Community members stepped up throughout August to help ease the burden on families struggling with back-to-school costs, after months of paying more at the checkout thanks to policies backed by Reps. Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden.

Back-to-school shopping has grown noticeably more expensive this year. Back-to-school supplies saw an average price increase of 7.3% because of Republican-backed tariffs, with the cost of some essential items climbing even higher. On top of higher costs for these items, the Republican Tax Law has also sent healthcare costs soaring, forcing families to pay more of their hard-earned money for coverage and care.

Last week the challenges of back-to-school season were apparent as Opportunity Wisconsin hosted a roundtable where parents, educators, and local lawmakers gathered to discuss the rising cost of school supplies and its strain on family budgets.

“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. “We’re proud of every community member who showed up this month to help lighten that load, but generosity shouldn’t have to fill the gap left by Republicans’ own policy choices.”