LAPLACE — Going back to school can be stressful for students and expensive for parents.

Over the years, the Norco-based Assistance for Single Parents organization has done what it can to help employed single parents manage those costs.

One of its largest programs is its School Uniform Giveaway, which has provided some new and many “gently used” school uniforms to hundreds of school children in St. Charles Parish.

This year the program will expand into St. John the Baptist Parish.

Employed single parents of St. Charles and St. John parishes must register at AssistanceForSingleParents.org, with identification, proof of employment and proof of residency.

Pre-registration is required.

Uniforms, belts, backpacks and other items will be distributed to registered parents while supplies last from 6 to 8 p.m. July 31 at the Main Branch of the St. John Parish Library, 2920 U.S. 51 in LaPlace.

Anyone wishing to donate used school uniforms, P.E. clothes, jackets, belts, backpacks and lunch kits may drop them off at any St. John or St. Charles Parish library, New Wine Christian Fellowship Church, Celebration Church in LaPlace, First Assembly of God Church in LaPlace, Anytime Fitness in Destrehan and Luling, Snap Fitness in Luling and the AFSP office, located at 309 Apple St. in Norco.

Debra Rieder, executive director of AFSP, said the group’s mission is to help single parents who may be struggling to provide for their children.

“We can’t give them money. We can’t pay a bill,” Rieder said. “We want to do whatever else we can to assist them fill the gaps.”

In addition to the uniform giveaway, SFSP offers single parent meetings, empowerment and financial seminars, legal workshops and referrals to other organizations that offer services, including free counseling. It is funded in part by the United Way, Entergy, Bunge, Nalco, Marathon Petroleum Company, First National Bank, The Mosaic Company, Team Tasha and Hamada Orthodontics.

For more information contact AFSP via email at assistanceforsingleparents@gmail.com or visit assistanceforsingleparents.org.