Colorful displays of school supplies are featured in many local stores as area students prepare to head back into the classrooms for another year. Yet for many in our community, the isles of branded backpacks, new shoes and sharp pencils don’t invoke an excitement for learning, and instead instill fear of how much it will cost.

Let’s face it, back-to-school shopping is expensive. A price can’t be put on a child’s education, or so the saying goes, but some big box stores have made a pretty good effort nonetheless.

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 32% of Meridian residents live in poverty. Of those, roughly half are under the age of 18.

School supplies, however, are felt by families regardless of income level. A survey conducted earlier this month by the National Retail Federation found families of K-12 students planned to spend approximately $875 on back-to-school shopping this year.

Multiply that cost for two, three or even four children and many families will struggle to balance their daily needs with the desire to send their children into the new academic year with the tools they need to succeed.

That is where school supply drives can help. Multiple drives and school supply programs are up and running in the Meridian and Lauderdale County area to take some of that weight off of parents’ shoulders.

United Way’s annual Stuff the Bus campaign kicked off earlier this month to collect supplies and funds to help overwhelmed families. In Marion, the police department will hold its annual Stuff the Cruiser event Saturday, with doors opening at 8 a.m.

Other events and drives are being organized by organizations and churches throughout the East Mississippi and West Alabama area.

As Marion Police Chief Randall Davis put it, education is vital, and children need to have the right tools to succeed in the classroom.

For those who are able, consider supporting one of the local school supply drives by donating supplies or money to help with the effort. It doesn’t take much extra work to grab a few notebooks or packages of colored pencils while on a weekend grocery run, but those supplies can have a huge impact on a student’s education.

Let’s take this opportunity to not only tell but also show our local students how important their education is by making sure each of them has the supplies they need to learn on day one.