OGDENSBURG -- The Salvation Army in Ogdensburg and Massena, along with Salvation Army Service Units in Canton, Potsdam and Gouverneur and the Price Chopper stores in those communities, are partnering to help children start the school year prepared to succeed.

Each Price Chopper has an in-store display to encourage shoppers to purchase school items while shopping in the store. All the school supplies collected will be donated to the local Salvation Army, which will provide the supplies to area students. The campaign runs through Sept. 12.

“Having students equipped for learning is the key to a student’s success,” Lt. Shaun McNeil of the Ogdensburg Salvation Army said. “Price Chopper and their customers have enabled The Salvation Army to help many children in our area,” he said.

This is the seventh year of the partnership between Price Chopper and the Salvation Army to help children gear up for the academic year.

According a back-to-school spending survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, the average family with children in grades K-12 plans to spend $630.36 on electronics, apparel and other school needs, down from $669.28 last year. Total spending nationwide is expected to reach $24.9 billion. Families on average have spent 42 percent more on school items over the past 10 years.

Because this cost is a struggle for low-income families, The Salvation Army wants to help ensure each child is equipped with the supplies needed to do well academically.