(KNSI) – The cost of school materials is placing an increasing burden on family budgets.

Parents are learning the hard way that rising prices are hitting everything from pencils to calculators. Data from the National Retail Federation shows that a typical family will pay $141.62 per child, compared to five years ago, when the average price of school supplies was $117.49. That’s a 20.5 percent increase.

Impacks Clare Richards, executive director of a Waite Park-based school supply distribution company, told KNSI News that clothing and technology are not included in the total cost. “$140 for one student. Now, when you have three or four kids, that adds up. And when all of those expenses come in one month in the summer, it can really be a burden.”

Richards co-founded Impacks to help families prepare for the school year affordably. She says the company is not immune to higher prices. “It’s definitely affected our bottom line as well, but we’re working really, really hard to lower the cost for parents. I think at most of our schools, the average price for our child is still in the $50 to $60 range.”

Impacks offers collection during open days, or starting this year parents can opt for home delivery. Impacks boxes are only available to families whose schools participate in the program.

Although it is too late to place orders this year, Impacks is working with the United Way of Central Minnesota to raise funds to purchase school supplies for underprivileged students. For every five school supply packages donated by the community, Impacks will give one free. Donations will be accepted until August 22nd.

Impacks was founded in 2020 and initially worked with a few local schools. Since then, the company has expanded to 16 states and has over 200 partners.

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