School supplies sought for ECC's Project Backpack

Elgin Community College is seeking donations of backpacks and school supplies for Project Backpack, a community-based initiative benefiting students in need.

More than 15,000 backpacks have been distributed since 2010.

Last year's event drew 3,500 people, and roughly 1,800 backpacks were distributed to families. The Northern Illinois Food Bank also handed out 7,000 water bottles, apples and healthy snacks.

Organizers are seeking to give out as many backpacks as they can, said Samantha Migatz, Project Backpack team lead.

“There really isn't a cap. It's just as many as possible,” she said. “There's tons of students (within ECC District 509) that can be eligible for it.”

Donors can bring in backpacks or school supplies or both. Supplies sought are: two pocket folders, solid color only; one subject spiral notebooks, wide rule, solid color only; packs of loose leaf/filler paper, 150/200 count, wide rule; packages of yellow wood, standard No. 2 pencils, 10 count; black pens; scissors, gender-neutral color; glue sticks, 0.21 ounce; rulers, wood or gender-neutral color; pack of 24 crayons, Crayola preferred; and gender-neutral backpacks.

Donations will be accepted through Aug. 1 at the college's Student Life Office in Building B, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, and the following locations:

• Elgin State Bank, 1001 S. Randall Road, 445 Summit St., and 590 N. McLean Blvd.

• Elgin Area School District U-46 Educational Services Center, 355 E. Chicago St.

• Elgin Chamber of Commerce, 31 S. Grove Ave.

• St. Charles Episcopal Church, 994 N. Fifth Ave.

• Illinois Pain Treatment Institute, 431 Summit St. No. 101, Elgin.

ECC's seventh annual Project Backpack is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 13 in the Building J Spartan Events Center, 1700 Spartan Drive.

Students must provide proof of residency within District 509 boundaries or attend its feeder school districts. Backpacks are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and limited to one backpack per student.

Community agencies and services also will be available at the event to help individuals in need.

“We're also partnering with the Northern Illinois Food Bank again, as we have been in the past, and they will be giving out some food, as well,” Migatz said.

Project Backpack is sponsored by ECC, the ECC Faculty Association, Community Crisis Center, Kane County Regional Office of Education, Kane County Teachers Credit Union, U-46, and United Way of Elgin.

For more information, call (847) 214-7370 or visit project-backpack.org. For information in Spanish, call (847) 888-5000, ext. 4211.