Manitoba parents brace for back-to-school costs [Video]

As students prepare to head back to school, the high cost of living is hitting some families harder than before.

Parents are trying their best to buy the essentials, but others are turning to the community for a helping hand.

Christine Stacey and her six-year-old daughter Brianna are offering support for struggling families in the form of a backpack filled with school supplies.

“Every single backpack is different based on the age, the grade and the division,” Stacey said.

She started collecting donations for the backpack drive last year after she found it difficult to keep up with costs.

“I figured that if I was in need, other families are going to be in need,” said Stacey.

According to a survey by NerdWallet, 92 per cent of Canadian parents will back-to-school shop this year. Of those, 47 per cent expect to spend $500 or more.

In its own study, the …