Families on Whidbey Island are busy getting there children ready for the first day of school.

However, some families don’t have money to properly supply their children for the coming school year.

As the end of a month-long school supply drive nears, officials at the Opportunity Council in Oak Harbor are handing out backpacks and school supplies for more than 260 students who need help. That number is 40 more than last year.

“It’s overwhelming for people who are struggling,” said Lisa Clark, service center director for the Island County Opportunity Council, of families trying to make sure their children are ready for the start of the school year.

With a combination of $3,200 worth of community donations and a school supply drive, she said they can provide backpacks and supplies for the families seeking help this year.

The Opportunity Council received a boost this year with help from the North Whidbey Lions Club which recently conducted a school-supply drive.

“It was unreal how much they (collected),” Clark said. “It took four station wagons to get the school supplies back.”

She added the Opportunity Council has seen many people coming in off the street to drop off donations at their office on First Avenue.

Now with the school supplies and backpacks in hand, officials can go about distributing items. So far, about 50 backpacks have been handed out to families with more people coming into the office every day for help.

Clark said the school supplies should be handed out to families in time for the start of the school year.

For information about the Opportunity Council’s school supply drive, call 679-6577.