Backpack and School Supply Giveaway at Byrd High This Thursday

Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport is helping parents all over Shreveport-Bossier with school supplies. Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport will be setting up at C.E. Byrd High School giving away backpacks and school supplies this Thursday, August 5th.

Parents can drive up to the school parking lot at the corner of Kings Highway and Line Avenue from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. A backpack and school supplies will be given away per child while supplies last. Keep in mind the child must be there otherwise they can't get the backpack and supplies.

We have started to hear about the huge spike in school supply prices all over the Ark-La-Tex. Keith Jelinek, with Berkeley Research Group, told USA Today, that we should all expect to see up to a 15% increase when it comes to back-to-school shopping. The other part that made me wince is that he expects there to be a shortage of back-to-school supplies like backpacks, shoes, and even some stationery items.

According to USA Today, "Families with children in elementary through high school plan to spend an average of $848.90 on school items, which is $59 more than last year." Wait, parents are spending nearly $1,000 just to send their kids back to school? Last year parents were scrambling to find desks and computers so their kids could go to school virtually. Total back-to-school spending is expected to reach a record $37.1 billion, up from $33.9 billion last year, the survey of more than 7,700 consumers showed.