Our Mission

We are fortunate to live in a relatively prosperous and caring community. It can be shocking to realize, however, that one in five children in our Region actually live below the poverty line.

Some of those children dread the first day of school each September -- when the poverty line seems to be drawn most clearly. Worn clothing, no gym shoes, few or no school supplies or backpack... these children stand out against their peers. While these may seem like superficial concerns, teachers tell us that the impact can be devastating for some children. In the worst cases, the sense of shame and embarrassment set up a negative attitude towards both school and peers that undermines the child's ability to develop socially or achieve academically.

Our mission is to set these children on a more hopeful path -- by outfitting them with some basic clothing and school supplies, intended to send'em off smiling on that first day of school each September.

About SEND'EM OFF SMILING

Our goal at Send'em Off Smiling is to link the resources of our caring community with the children in most need -- to give these children a chance at a better future.

We believe that -- by making the "back-to-school" experience a positive one for children, we can help set them on a path for greater success. Teachers attest to the difference that the program can make in the attitude of these children. It's wonderful to know that such a small thing can make such a big difference!