Approximately 100,000 students will head back to Lee County schools next month and parents are gearing up for a first step to get them there: Back-to-school shopping

The National Retail Federation is projecting a pretty big number this year as parents break out the wallets to buy clothes, supplies and often, electronics to equip their kids from kindergarten through college for the classroom

According to a release recently issued by the NRF with data collected by Prosper Insights & Analytics, another record spending year is projected with spending “expected to reach an unparalleled $41 5 billion, up from $36 9 billion last year and the previous high of $37 1 billion in 2021 Back-to-college spending is expected to hit $94 billion, about $20 billion more than last year’s record ”

How does that break down per kid?

“Families with children in elementary through high school plan to spend an average of $890 07 on back-to-school items this year, approximately $25 more than last year’s record of $864 35 and a new high,” the NRF reports

For parents with children in college, the number is higher

“College students and their families are

Editorial expected to spend an average of $1,366 95 per person, up from $1,199 43 last year, and a new record from the previous record of $1,200 32 in 2021,” according to the NRF which adds, that since 2019, back-to-college spending has nearly doubled

Budgeting for back to school is seldom easy for most of us and this year, with many still in recovery mode from Hurricane Ian, it’s even harder

But there are at least three things coming up that can provide a bit of a break the state’s back-to-school sales tax holiday began on Monday, F I S H of Sanibel-Captiva will distribute school supplies and more next week to qualifying households and the annual Big Backpack Event providing supplies for children in need has a record number of backpacks available for distribution

The 2023 tax holiday runs from now through Aug 6 and applies to many back-toschool necessities including clothing, footwear, backpacks, school supplies and electronics, including personal computers and accessories, tablets and book readers

There are some conditions: Clothing, footwear and qualifying accessories need to be

$100 or less per item; school supplies are limited to $50 or less per item; learning aids $30 or less; and qualifying electronics must cost $1,500 or less and must be for noncommercial home or personal use

In addition, F I S H will hand out essential items, like paper, glue sticks, notebooks and more, for grades K-12 plus socks, underwear and gift cards from July 31 to Aug 2 The program is open to families living and working on the islands For more information, contact F I S H at 239-472-4775

Meanwhile, the much-anticipated 24th annual BIG Backpack Event is set July 30 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fort Myers Skatium Thanks to event sponsors, including the Lee County Sheriff’s Office which donated 500 packs, organizers plan to distribute 2,500 free supply-stuffed backpacks to students ages 5 to 12 at the drive-thru giveaway

As an added bonus this year, the Midwest Food Bank and Community Cooperative will provide food for those who take part

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