Organizers expect heavy turnout at U-46 back to school fair

For most local students, the Fourth of July served as the official halfway mark to summer break.

But those attending three Elgin Area School District U-46 schools - Channing, Garfield and Sheridan Elementary - will hit the books again July 22.

To help ready those students for a new school year, the district will hold its annual back-to-school supply fair at 9 a.m. Saturday in the gym at the Gifford Street Alternative High School, 46 S. Gifford St., Elgin.

About 1,400 kindergartners through sixth-graders attend the continuous learning calendar schools, which feature shorter, more frequent breaks and a year-round academic calendar. According to state report cards, a majority of students are minorities coming from low-income homes.

At the fair, kids will receive backpacks filled with pens, pencils, notebooks and erasers after their parents visit a number of booths from local social service, civic and religious agencies.

Families can apply for All Kids - state health insurance for children from low-income families - and free or reduced-price lunches.

The YMCA of Elgin, the Community Crisis Center, Centro de Informacion y Progreso, and the Literacy Connection are among the 25 agencies that will attend this year's fair.

Meijer, Sam's Club, the Elgin State Bank and the Huntington Learning Center are among those donating supplies. With more local families out of jobs, officials expect a high turnout Saturday.

To attend, fair organizer and district homeless liaison Maggie Dempsey said, families must bring proof of either residence or school attendance, such as a report card or a piece of mail.

Dempsey said there will be least 600 supply-filled backpacks this year. Bad weather at last year's fair resulted in some leftovers, but organizers are still looking for donations.

New school supplies can be dropped off at Channing Elementary, 63 S. Channing St., Elgin.

"There's definitely more people looking for resources," she said. "Unfortunately this only helps out families from Channing, Garfield and Sheridan."