Slowing economy leading more parents to seek back-to-school help

With the economy slowing down, social agencies are seeing a rush of people looking for help with back-to-school shopping.

"The economy is definitely taking its toll. More and more people are coming in for assistance," said Mike Bowers, youth director for the Cape Girardeau Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army gave out 817 backpacks brimming with notebook paper, crayons, glue and other school supplies so far this year -- a 35 percent increase compared to the amount given at this time last year. Organizers didn't aggressively advertise the back-to-school fair because they were afraid they wouldn't be able to handle the crowd.

Elsewhere, retailers are offering deeper discounts and shoppers are scaling back to only must-have items, experts say.

Fancier clothing or backpacks, expensive technology like computers, or spur-of-the-moment buys will be reduced, said David Overfelt, president of the Missouri Retailers Association.

"At the same time, we are seeing a lot more bargains, specials, sales and different incentives to get people in the stores to make these purchases," he said.

Parent Adena Penford said she has been shopping around for the best deals more so than in years past and has been scouring advertisements. On Thursday, she was "taking advantage" of Staples' offer of 10 free folders with any purchase.

"My budget is the same but overall things are costing more. It's tighter on those strings," the Chester, Ill., woman said. She was biting the bullet school shopping because she said the purchases were things her two children "have to have" for school.

Potosi, Mo., 14-year-old Chelsea Skiles was looking for deals at Aeropostale and J.C. Penney at West Park Mall last week.

Nationally, discount stores are faring better than higher-end shops. A July survey by Deloitte showed that 46 percent of people will shop at less expensive stores than usual this year. The survey also showed that 71 percent of people plan to spend less.

"People are looking more for bargains than in the past. The first thing they ask is where the shoes are on sale," said David Webb, a training supervisor with Payless ShoeSource in Cape Girardeau.

But last weekend's tax-free holiday was surprisingly better than expected, he said. The "no-tax weekend really catapulted us," he said.

With fuel costs "eating into the pocketbook," retailers "will just be lucky to see growth and be happy with that," Overfelt said. He is anticipating only "slight" growth.

Parent Kimberly Dunning attended the Salvation Army fair and a fair sponsored by the East Missouri Action Agency on Friday.

"The money isn't there," Dunning said, citing increases in fuel and food prices. "I work nearly full-time and it's like you pay your bills and rent and then what? It's a real juggle," she said.

At the Friday fair, she navigated her daughter Zoe Glueck, 6, through stations offering vision and hearing screenings, a head lice exam, a body mass index check and a bag with school supplies. "We do both fairs so we don't get caught with four months left in the year and no supplies," she said.

As far as new clothes, her sister found Zoe several outfits at a yard sale, and Dunning used coupons to get an additional 20 percent off purchases at J.C. Penney and Old Navy, she said.

Cape Girardeau assistant superintendent Pat Fanger said teachers provide supplies for children who can't afford them. "Sometimes other parents will donate extra supplies, and a lot of times we get community donations, but if not the district budget picks up what students need," she said. "That may be increased this year with the economy."

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123

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