Back-to-school is an exciting time for students and families — and an expensive one. New clothes need to be purchased, new shoes, numerous school supplies and even more groceries to make school lunches. Similarly, the advent of autumn is invigorating with the cooler weather and the numerous harvest and Halloween activities scheduled, but the colder weather also means the purchase of new clothes, heavier jackets and rain and winter boots. It’s this time of year especially where all of us should remember the less fortunate in our community and try to help them as best we can.

Within the coverage area of this newspaper, we have numerous food pantries and outreach programs that can benefit by the generosity of our readers, including Bridgeport Food Pantry, Fayetteville Manlius Community Outreach, Heaven’s Pantry in Minoa, Jamesville Food Pantry and, of course, numerous churches throughout Central New York.

So as you go out to buy supplies for your child’s return to school, grab an extra few items to donate to a local outreach program. They are always in need of backpacks (new or gently used), pens, pencils, erasers, crayons, glue sticks, markers, colored pencils, highlighters, notebook paper, colored folders, large spiral notebooks, composition notebooks and three-ring binders.

Food pantries are always in need of non-perishable food donations, while some local food pantries will accept fresh produce (be sure to call first to check if your local food pantry accepts fresh fruits and vegetables). If you have cans of food you will not eat but are tired of looking at on your shelves (but not expired), give them to your local food pantry; if your garden is overflowing with fall fruits and produce, consider donating some of your surplus; if you go out apple or pumpkin picking, consider grabbing a few extra bags of apples or individual pumpkins and drop them off.

Lastly, we all know how cold our winters can be, as you are digging out your fall and winter clothing and find gently used or new (particularly children’s coats) and short, easy-to-clean coats, consider donating them as well.

What comes as a small sacrifice, a few extra dollars or an extra car trip to drop off extra clothing for those of us who have enough for our families can make an immense difference in the lives of our neighbors who struggle to get by. A simple act of generosity on our parts can also be an invaluable experience and life lesson to our children if we make it a family outing to give back to those in need.

Local food pantries and outreach programs:

Jamesville Food Pantry — 6486 E Seneca Turnpike, Jamesville, 469-5093.

Bridgeport Food Pantry — St. Francis of Assisi Church, 7820 NY-298, Bridgeport, 633-2561.

Heaven’s Pantry — Minoa United Methodist Church, 250 East Ave., Minoa, 437-8318.

Fayetteville Manlius Community Outreach and Food Pantry — 122 W Seneca St., No. 5, Manlius, 682-3688.