For many children, going back to school is an exciting time. They look forward to seeing their friends and learning more in their favorite classes. As a parent, however, back-to-school season can be bittersweet. The steep costs of back-to-school supplies (averaging nearly $700 per family–and growing every year) can quickly put financial stress on your household.
Now imagine finding out that a good Samaritan offered to cover your back-to-school expenses for you. That’s what happened last week at Detroit’s Meijer grocery store.
Most of us tend to be extra generous or charitable once a year during the holiday season. But local attorney Brian J. McKeen decided that August was a good time for some random acts of kindness. He partnered with WXYZ 7 Action News to organize random surprises for shoppers at Meijer grocery store on Eight Mile Road.
The Back to School Supplies Surprise team approached families at the store who were in the midst of buying school supplies–and informed them that all of their purchases that day would be free. The news brought tears of joy and visible relief to many families, as they realized they would not have to cut corners on other expenses in order to get their kids ready for school.
McKeen has worked his entire career in Detroit, helping injury victims–especially children–seek justice. When asked why he volunteered to pay for the back-to-school supplies of families he didn’t even know, he replied that he was just looking for a way to give back to the people in his community.
