Backpacks, school supplies to be donated to needy students

Thousands of backpacks filled with school supplies will be given away to students in need Saturday at Elgin Community College's annual Project Backpack event.

Beginning at 9 a.m. at Building J of the Spartan Events Center, families who provide proof of residency or enrollment in Community Unit District 300, Elgin Area School District U-46 or at ECC will receive a backpack full of school supplies.

"An event like Project Backpack is not only about giving hope; I think it's inspirational," said Katie Storey, ECC student life coordinator who has been a leader for Project Backpack since its inception in 2010. "It's exciting to say that there's a community behind you that knows you're going to succeed."

The event has served more than 10,000 students to date, she said. In recent years, ECC has handed out more than 2,000 backpacks each year, and Storey said she is hopeful to reach the same amount this year.

The event runs until 3 p.m. or until supplies run out. Because all backpacks are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, Storey said, families should arrive a few hours beforehand.

"The earlier the better," she said, noting that people started lining up the night before the event last year. "That's very eye-opening because we're really serving a great need of people who are very grateful to get these supplies."

About 25 other community agencies will be located in the gymnasium to provide free resources to families after they receive their backpacks. The Northern Illinois Food Bank, for example, will hand out nutritious snacks, along with information about local food pantries or other programs for needy families.

"The back-to-school season is a really critical time for families in need because there are so many expenses," said Donna Lake, communications director for the food bank. "Being part of this event helps us reach some folks who may need assistance. It's really about awareness."

Other giveaways

Project Backpack is only one of many similar events that aim to help families in need prepare for school.

At Hosanna! Lutheran Church, a school supply giveaway will take place 4 to 8 p.m. Friday. John Rohleder, an event coordinator, said volunteers have spent the entire week packing backpacks full of age-appropriate supplies to hand out to kids in need from kindergarten to 12th grade.

On average, Hosanna serves 1,000 children each year, Rohleder said.

Families can line up outside the church's eastern door. Upon entering the church, they will be registered and will then receive backpacks.

From there, he said, students and their families can access the many other resources available to them, such as a table of donated books for kids to take.

Whenever Rohleder thinks about the impact a school supply giveaway has on the community, a distinct image comes to mind: a young mother carrying a baby in her arms and her son who looked to be in kindergarten carrying his new backpack full of school supplies.

The woman approached Rohleder with tears in her eyes and, so emotional that she couldn't speak, she mouthed "thank you."

"I don't care what kind of headache I have to go through," said Rohleder. "That makes it all worth it."