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MIFFLINTOWN -- The first day of school has a price tag.
Clothes, shoes, a backpack, and classroom supplies can strain a family budget weeks before a child reaches the classroom. For some Juniata County families, the Salvation Army's back-to-school program offers help when those costs arrive at once.
Registration will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, July 30, and Monday, Aug. 3, at the Juniata County Library, 498 Jefferson St., Mifflintown.
Families who meet the income guidelines can receive help buying school clothing and shoes at Walmart. Each child will also receive a backpack containing supplies.
Parents or guardians must bring photo identification and proof of income, such as a recent pay stub or Social Security documentation.
Families who qualify receive a card with an assigned Walmart shopping time. They also receive a list of approved purchases, including clothing and shoes, Salvation Army regional manager Jael Houser said.
The shopping system gives parents a chance to choose what their children need instead of receiving a standard package. One child may need shoes. Another may have outgrown nearly everything. Parents can compare sizes and prices and choose what fits their child.
Houser didn't know the exact amount allotted to each child. She said families will receive an amount to spend and guidance on which purchases the program permits.
Houser estimated that 20 or more families may participate, though she said the final number could be higher. The program will likely serve more children because some households will register siblings.
The final numbers won't be known until registration ends.
"Unfortunately, it's probably more each year," Houser said. "Last year was a little bit quieter, but usually it's pretty high."
Houser is in her second year overseeing the Salvation Army service unit in Mifflintown, but the back-to-school program predates her arrival.
She couldn't give a founding year, though she said the program was already part of the local Salvation Army's work when she took the position.
The Mifflintown operation is a service unit rather than a full Salvation Army corps. Houser described service units as the organization's "helping hands" in their communities. They connect residents with assistance and carry out seasonal programs through local volunteers.
That local structure matters because Houser oversees nine counties and lives nearly two hours from Mifflintown. She depends on volunteers in Juniata County who know the community and understand the needs of the families they serve.
Those volunteers help with registration and other parts of the back-to-school effort. They also give the regional office a clearer picture of what families in Juniata County are facing.
Houser said she hears throughout the region that back-to-school assistance remains necessary, though local volunteers are better positioned to describe conditions in Juniata County.
Back-to-school expenses arrive all at once.
Clothes that fit in May may be too small by August. Shoes wear out, and backpacks split at the seams. A few basic purchases can strain a budget already covering food, rent, and utilities.
The program is funded through grants, individual donations, and the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign. Houser said contributions sent through the mail also support the service unit's work.
That money eventually becomes something a child can use. It can pay for shoes that don't pinch, clothes that fit and supplies a child can carry into school.
The program also depends on people willing to give their time.
"We always need volunteers," Houser said.
The need continues beyond the two registration sessions. Prospective volunteers should contact Houser before going to the library so organizers can place them where needed.
Applications remain confidential, an assurance for parents who may hesitate to ask for help.
"This is all confidential," Houser said. "We don't ever judge. This is to help the children."
The program isn't concerned about how a family came to need help, Houser said. It's meant to help children return with the clothes, shoes, and supplies they need.
Families or prospective volunteers seeking more information may contact Houser at 610-698-1904 or Jael.Houser@use.salvationarmy.org.
"This is to make your child feel better about going to school," Houser said.
That feeling may show in the way a child walks into a classroom or poses for a first-day photograph. It may also show when a parent sends a child out the door without worrying about worn shoes or clothes that no longer fit.