Back to school

National Catholic Reporter, August 22, 2008

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Volunteer Kristy Williams helps student Kendall Winfield with a class project at St. Margaret of Scotland School in Chicago earlier this year. Back-to-school shopping, the second-biggest shopping season after Christmas, is expected this year to run about $594 per family (including electronics and clothing), up from last year's $563, according to the National Retail Federation, a trade group based in Washington. That's a total of $20.1 billion for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Currently 16 states and the District of Columbia offer tax-free shopping days specifically for school items. During these days, usually in August, customers can purchase clothes, shoes, supplies and computers without paying state sales taxes. Catholic Charities agencies sponsor back-to-school drives to collect items for those in need. These drives in cities and rural areas go beyond collecting crayons and notebooks to collecting money for clothes or shoe vouchers.