LANGLEY — School starts Thursday, but it’s not too late to return to class in style, thanks to the Back to School Project.

Now in its 10th year, the charitable effort sponsored by the Readiness To Learn Foundation and the Family Resource Center, gathers community donations to help outfit students who may not be able to afford essential items.

The Family Resource Center, in a tidy building behind the South Whidbey Primary School on Maxwelton Road, opened for business last month, scheduling individual half-hour appointments throughout the day for families and students to “shop.”

“The financial demands of the new school year are extremely stressful for many families,” said Gail LaVassar, director of the program.

“Many parents are worrying about how to pay for school supplies, new shoes, haircuts and new clothes,” she said.

Through community donations of money and school supplies, the program hopes to raise $15,000 and to help 300 students this year, LaVassar said.

So far, the program has helped 160, with enough supplies to help outfit another 50, she said.

Last year, donations helped 250 students from kindergarten through high school to begin the year with new outfits, new shoes and all the supplies teachers required, she said.

The program provides new pens, pencils, erasers, markers, notebooks and other supplies, along with sturdy new backpacks. Biggest demand, and shortest in supply, are small calculators, 2-inch binders, fine-tip and wide-tip markers, dividers and glue sticks, LaVassar said.

Collection bins, with wish lists attached, remain at 15 area commercial locations and 10 area churches.

“It costs $100 these days to outfit each student with the required supplies,” LaVassar said. “Multiply that by two or three kids per family, and it can be overwhelming.”

She said most of the families are single mothers with two or three children, although one family who took advantage of the program included eight children.

LaVassar said that 15 to 20 percent of the people who have come in so far are new to the program, reflecting the harsh state of the economy.

“They’re really facing financial hardship,” she said.

LaVassar said money raised goes toward vouchers that can be used to buy new shoes and clothing. She said two-thirds of this year’s $15,000 goal has been met.

Boeing recently donated several backpacks filled with school supplies, she said. Several area hairdressers have underwritten vouchers for haircuts. And Good Cheer has provided $10 “Mad Money” vouchers that can be spent at its stores, LaVassar said.

The Family Resource Center has been set up as a bright, cheerful little store, mostly staffed by volunteers. Students can “shop” during their appointments, while the adults who came with them can meet with staff and volunteers in a relaxed fashion to learn about other programs that may be available to them.

“It’s a real community partnership to make these things happen,” LaVassar said. “We wouldn’t be in a position to provide this service without community support.”

She said the program will continue through this month, and longer if needed, and if supplies hold out. She said many students start the school year, then realize they need items they may not be able to afford.

On the other hand, LaVassar added, many students who have been helped before school starts stop by the office to show off their new clothes.

“It comes full circle,” she said.

LaVassar said more than 45 volunteers have taken part this year. One is Laura Hernandez, 14, of Freeland, who was assisting at the center on a recent afternoon.

“I like to volunteer,” she said. “It’s fun to help people out.”

Anie Piehler, 20, of Oak Harbor, is a recent Skaget Valley College nursing graduate who has been assisting at the center since last year, doing “a little bit of everything.”

“My favorite thing about it is the people I get to meet,” she said. “Everybody has a smile on their face.”

Speaking of smiles, LaVassar showed off some thank-you notes left behind by visiting students.

“Thank you for your donations. I now have all of my school supplies and am excited for the new year,” one reads.

Said another, from a much younger shopper: “Taht you for efrethiing.”

LaVassar said donations can be dropped off at the South Whidbey Family Resource Center behind the South Whidbey Primary School, 5476 Maxwelton Road, Langley. Donations also can be mailed to Back To School Project, PO Box 346, Langley, Wash. 98260.

Call the Family Resource Center at 221-6808, ext. 4322 to volunteer or to contribute items. To receive assistance through the Back To School Project, call the center at 221-6808 ext. 4602.

Roy Jacobson can be reached at 221-5300 or rjacobson@southwhidbeyrecord.com.