"Today, Aug. 1, is National Girlfriend Day, a special day for gal pals to express gratitude to each other," Susan Hazlett writes.

Between the need for supplies and child care, the greatest financial toll during the back-to-school season will likely be in the households living under the ALICE threshold.

The Christmas in July campaign features a 10-day return of the organization’s signature Red Kettles to raise funds for local programs.