Dave Lawerence of That 50's Barbershop is eager to donate the remaining backpacks filled with school supplies and clothing. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Fresh Start

Fresh Start charts positive beginning to school year for Nanaimo area students

Aug 29, 2021 | 7:59 AM

NANAIMO — Giving students a sharp look and supplies to start the school year, while giving their families a much-need financial break is what Fresh Start is all about.

Dozens of mid island school students took advantage of this year’s Fresh Start program, where free hair cuts and school supplies were given to school aged children on Saturday, Aug 28 at the Vancouver Island Regional Library in downtown Nanaimo.

Organizer Dave Lawrence of That 50’s Barbershop said it’s always rewarding helping people who need it, pointing to expenses often reaching several hundred dollars at the start of school year for cash-strapped families.

“A lot of people don’t have that kind of money, especially with COVID and everything going on with people’s work,” Lawerence told NanaimoNewsNOW. “Money is tight, the cost of living on the island has gone crazy.”

While pointing out adults struggling with poverty is more visible to the community at large, Lawrence said hundreds of local students are impacted with those same challenges.

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“You don’t recognize the kid walking to school without a winter coat, or without proper shoes, or hasn’t had breakfast or lunch. It’s this hidden problem.”

When Lawrence began Fresh Start as an impromptu effort three weeks in advance of the program launch in 2015, he was surprised to see 75 children show up.

Since then numbers shot up to 200 students taking advantage of the beloved program.

It was a lower turnout than usual this year with Lawrence speculating the event landing on the same weekend as the Vancouver Island Exhibition as one reason why.

He said leftover backpacks, which includes clothing, will be handed out at his Victoria Cres. barbershop on Labour Day.

Numerous local businesses and volunteers helped Lawerence stage the expanded 2021 edition of Fresh Start, held outside the walls of Lawerence’s barbershop for a second straight year.

Last year’s in-person event had to be cancelled due to the pandemic, resulting in backpacks delivered to children throughout the greater Nanaimo area.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes