North Central supporters provide school supplies to needy children

More than 100 low-income children will start school this year with supplies paid for by supporters of North Central College in Naperville.

The college teamed with Flowers for Dreams for the second straight year to raise money to buy school supplies for local students in need. Part of the proceeds from the sale of flowers at the college’s commencement ceremony in June benefited Flowers for Dreams.

Mary Reynolds, the college’s associate director of alumni events and coordinator of major campus events, helped arrange for Flowers for Dreams to sell floral bouquets to family and friends at the June 8 commencement.

For each flower arrangement valued at $27 or more, Flowers for Dreams donates a backpack — complete with a year’s worth of school supplies — to a Chicago Public Schools student in need.

The 2013 commencement ceremony netted Flowers for Dreams enough to donate backpacks and supplies to 133 Chicago Public School students living at or below poverty. Combined with the college’s 2012 campaign, the effort has benefited nearly 250 children.

Flowers for Dreams founder Steven Dyme praised North Central’s commitment to service and the success of the effort.

“The senior class and all of North Central College … have helped hundreds of local students get the resources they need to compete and achieve,” Dyme said.

Representatives from North Central and other institutions are invited to participate in Build-A-Backpack Day at Northwestern University in Evanston on Aug. 17. Hosted by Flowers for Dreams and its nonprofit partner Supplies for Dreams, supporters are able to help fill the backpacks they funded.

This year’s effort will benefit more than 4,000 low-income students, Dyme said.

For more information, visit flowersfordreams.com.