As back to school finds it's way into everyone's schedules this month, the Okotoks Family Resource Centre has a program in place for a little help with the costs.

Sherrie Mullen, Specialist at the Okotoks Family Resource Centre, says they've partnered up with a local store to ease the burden of cost for lower income families.

"We have a great partnership with Staples, they do in-store fundraising for our program," she said.

Mullen says the income- based program helps families purchase school supplies for their children by offering a gift card to purchase what their children need for school.

"We provide a Staples gift card per qualifying child, and families can go and purchase whatever is needed with that," she said.

The program supports students from kindergarten through to grade seven from Okotoks, De Winton, Black Diamond and Turner Valley.

The application process opened July 1st and applications will be accepted until August 31st.

You can access an application for the program at: https://www.okotoks.ca/discover-okotoks/older-adults/okotoks-family-resource-centre/programs-and-services/school-supply-program, as well as an income guideline for qualifying.

If you are interested in donating to the program, you can do so at the local Staples store, or the Okotoks Family Resource Centre. Cash and supply donations will be accepted, and tax receipts are issued for anything over ten dollars.