With school year coming to a close, a local not-for-profit organisation is collecting preloved uniforms to reduce the back-to-school financial burden on local families.

Now in its third year, School Savvy NQ is an annual back-to-school resources initiative by Centacare NQ to provide preloved uniforms and basic stationery at a pop-up shop throughout January. All items will be made available at between one to five dollars for a bundled pack, with 100 per cent of every sale to be reinvested back into the program.

Director of Centacare NQ, Stephen Burrowes, said the initiative had proved successful in its launch year, and called on the community and local businesses to support School Savvy NQ through donations and sponsorships.

“In 2022, School Savvy NQ helped over 1,000 families attain much-needed back-to-school items and we are hoping to increase this number this coming year,” said Mr Burrowes.

“School Savvy NQ is a 100 percent community funded initiative, so financial support provided by businesses and organisations is really what makes our pop-up shops possible.

“We’re asking for any support the community and local businesses can provide through the form of donations to ensure we can help reduce the financial burden on families ahead of the new school year.”

School Savvy NQ Gold Partner, Queensland Country Bank, is going above and beyond their cash sponsorship, with staff volunteering their time to assist on laundry day later this month and in the pop-up stores in January. Chief Executive Officer Aaron Newman said supporting this initiative not only enables them to proudly give back to the community that always supports them, but to proactively work towards their sustainability goals.

“All students deserve access to school supplies to enable them to participate in all activities,” said Mr Newman.

“As a member-owned bank, we are invested in supporting our local communities, and offering School Savvy NQ our financial and physical support to ensure they can continue to provide families with their back-to-school needs at affordable prices is rewarding for all our team.

“Through our Community Volunteer Program, Queensland Country Bank employees have put up their hands to sort, wash and fold uniforms in the lead up to the shop opening and to provide customer assistance in the pop up shops in Townsville and Ayr.

“As an organisation that values sustainability, we’re particularly pleased to be supporting an initiative which not only helps the local community, but is reducing the amount of preloved clothing destined for landfill.”

Mr Burrowes said is estimated that over seventeen per cent of children in Australia are affected by poverty, and praised local organisations for supporting School Savvy NQ.

“The goal of School Savvy is to ensure that all students have the opportunity to be well-equipped and ready to make the most of each new school year, regardless of their family’s financial position, and our corporate partners enable us to achieve that,” he said.

“We’re extremely grateful to returning sponsors such as Queensland Country Bank and Tosco Office National, who donated a large number of stationery items.

“Vinnies across the region has been wonderful in providing us with donated uniforms collected within their stores each year, and these will be available at the Pop-up stores for purchase, washed and folded with the assistance of Orange Sky Townsville.”