NEW ORLEANS — School is almost back in session, but before kids hear the first bell of the year, their parents are likely busy getting them ready. Often, the weeks before classes begin, kids try on their new uniforms, but many parents say the costs are exorbitant.
"I’m a single parent of four kids, a single hardworking parent of four kids and I just feel like these uniform prices are outrageous," Craigshandra Butler, a mother, said. "outrageous we are paying 30 for a collard shirt a long time ago it wasn’t mandatory for them to have a logo on the shirt and we could easily get a shirt for 5 dollars."
Parents say the polos are getting more and more expensive. They say the polos and bottoms are just one part of the laundry list of things they need to purchase. Plus, kids grow quickly.
"The polo is like 30 to 40 dollars for their shirts, for one shirt, so imagine it’s two shirts I have to pay. It’s double; I have to think about socks, drawers, and undershirts for my son and my daughter. I have to get her hair fixed. She likes the fancy stuff and I like to get her together, so it’s hard I try my best," Trineice Ramos, who has two young kids, said. "They grow out of their uniforms, then we have to buy more or double that. It’s crazy, it’s high I can’t afford it."
One organization is trying to fill the gap. Adopt-A-Family hosts a school uniform drive every year. With a $50 donation, they can purchase two tops and one bottom for a child. They work with school counselors who identify students who can not obtain a uniform to ensure their help is maximized.
"The biggest thing I hear from the school counselors is it helps the kids fit in with other students. They don’t stand out when they have a school uniform, and that, in turn, helps them learn better," Kevin Buckel, President of Adopt-A-Family, said.
Buckel has raised over a million dollars over its 31 years. But advocates worry that even with their help, it's not enough. Many hope the prices can be lowered soon so students can have the brightest future possible.
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