FAMILIES in Fermanagh have been coming together to help each other cope with back-to-school costs, showing a true sense of community spirit in the county.
As reported in last week’s Herald, many parents are struggling to cope with ever increasing back-to-school costs. Some are even going into debt just to cover the cost of uniforms, gym gear, books and any number of others things needed each September.
In response to this ongoing situation, a number of different groups and organisations right around Fermanagh have recognised the struggles now facing many, many local families. Probably the largest of these initiatives has been by the Devenish Partnership Forum, which has been running a ‘pop up’ uniform shop at its offices in Enniskillen.
The Partnership’s Marian Haggins said the shop was open to everyone, from1-5pm Monday to Friday, and had uniforms from all schools in the county, from primary school up to grammar schools. Ms Haggins said parents had been more than happy to offer uniforms for the shop.
“We put up a flyer on Facebook asking if anybody had uniforms their children had out grown or had finished with, and the generosity of people has been astounding,” she said, adding there was a lot of demand for the uniforms.
Ms Haggins continued: “Sometimes the cost of uniforms can be a lot, and nobody wants their child going in feeling different to another. It’s just a means to help anyone who wants to avail of it.
“The people who work here in the Devenish Forum, the majority of them have children of school going age, and they all understand the needs at this time of year. With the uncertain times we’re living in, it’s such a good idea.”
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