The Rev Canon Rose Scott, who is a full time social worker at Dunedin's 'Anglican Family Care' agency says that families in their care often go all out to give their kids a really good Christmas, which leaves them out of funds as the school year begins. 

"The biggest cost for a lot of our whānau is uniforms and shoes, and then factor in the stationery and the extras, and it all adds up." she says.

Two years back in the Anglican Parish of Geraldine, people's warden Susanne West heard about lofty 'back-to-school' costs from single parents in the congregation. That got her to thinking. 

"I love stationery and when I heard about its cost to families I thought, 'Crikey I've got loads of good quality stuff that's not being used."

So Susanne and a few church friends gathered together brand new pens, pencils, exercise books, and clear folders, then with their vicar Rev Hugh McCafferty stacked them in the children's zone at church with a sign saying "School supplies for free." It wasn't long before grateful whānau took them out the door.

In Dunedin, Rose reports that last year one Anglican donor responded to a call for help with vouchers that helped ten whānau on Anglican Family Care's books buy quality school shoes for the year. 

"That gesture made a big difference." says Rose.

"They not only got new shoes that fit them, but good ones that would last." 

Rose says schools often demand that students have larger ticket items too. That's why at Holy Trinity Port Chalmers where she's priest-in-charge, the church go to their local school for advice on how to help, especially when whānau are falling hundreds short.

"One of the biggest hardships is that schools want children to have Chrome books (laptops), or they have school camps to pay for, and then there's the school fees." Rose says.

"As a church it's our mission to reach out and ask what people need. Not to go and say 'We want to do this', but 'What meets a need for your families?" 

The Holy Trinity community has now helped with camp fees and other extras at times local families are finding it hard to manage, building on relationships made through the church's annual nativity play.

"There's a whole raft of expenses our families face going back to school, so any help they can get with any part of it really makes a difference." says Rose. 

Anglican social services
Churches can ask local schools and families directly what they could use help with, donate to Anglican Family Care or donate to their local members of the Anglican Care network website.

Awhi whānau services
Mihinare-led social services can receive donations via Hui Amorangi or their agencies such as Auckland's Te Whare Ruruhau o Meri.

Back to school at church
Churches wanting to mark 'Back to school' in their own community life can find a range of back to school resources for children's and intergenerational ministries on the Strandz website: 'Back to School' resources page.