ECC Project Backpack seeks school supply donations for local students

Elgin Community College and its partners are preparing for the 10th anniversary of Project Backpack, a community-based initiative to benefit area students in need.

Donations of school supplies will be accepted through Friday, July 12, at several locations.

The school supply giveaway event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, in the Building J Spartan Events Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.

Students who provide proof of residency or fall 2019 enrollment in Elgin Area School District U-46, Algonquin-based Community Unit District 300, Burlington Central Unit District 301, St. Charles Unit District 303, Hanover Park-based Keeneyville District 20 or at ECC are eligible to receive free backpacks.

During the event, backpacks pre-filled with school supplies are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of one backpack per student. A range of community agencies and services will also be available at the event to share information and help residents.

"It's incredibly moving to see the impact this event has on so many families in our community," said Megan Highland, Student Life coordinator and the Project Backpack lead. "Thousands of smiling students have left the event wearing their new backpack full of supplies and excited to start the upcoming school year. Seeing students receive the supplies they need to learn is a wonderful experience, and it's all made possible by the many generous donors and volunteers."

Approximately 15,000 students have been served since the initiative began in 2010.

Donations of the following supplies are needed:

• Backpacks

• Two-pocket, three-prong folders

• Spiral notebooks (one subject, wide ruled and college ruled)

• Composition notebooks

• Filler paper (150-200 count, wide ruled and college ruled)

• Three-ring binders and index dividers

• Pencils (10 count, standard No. 2, yellow wood)

• Black, blue, and red pens

• Highlighters

• Crayons (24-pack Crayola)

• Markers (10-pack Crayola, washable preferred)

• Colored pencils (12-pack Crayola)

• Erasers

• Scissors

• Rulers

• Glue sticks (0.21 oz.)

School supply donations can be dropped off from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday at Elgin Community College, Student Life Office, Building B, Room B173, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.

Donations also may be dropped off at various community locations prior to July 12: Community Crisis Center, 37 S. Geneva St. in Elgin; District U-46 Educational Services Center, 2nd Floor Reception Area, 355 E. Chicago St., Elgin; Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce, 31 S. Gove Ave., Elgin; Kane County Regional Office of Education, 28 N. First St., Geneva; and Kane County Teachers Credit Union, 111 S. Hawthorne St., Elgin.

Monetary donations are also welcome and can be made online at project-backpack.org or by mailing a check to ECC Foundation, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, IL 60123. Please write "Project Backpack" in memo line.

Individuals interested in volunteering for a shift during the Tuesday, July 30, or Thursday, Aug. 1, backpack packing days or during the event on Saturday, Aug. 3, can register online at project-backpack.org.

Project Backpack is sponsored by Elgin Community College, Elgin Community College Faculty Association, Community Crisis Center, Elgin Community College Pension Plan Participants, Kane County Regional Office of Education, Kane County Teachers Credit Union, School District U-46 and United Way of Elgin.

For information, visit project-backpack.org or contact the ECC Student Life Office at (847) 214-7370.

For information in Spanish, call (847) 888-5000, ext. 4211 (Para información en Español, llame (847) 888-5000, ext. 4211.)

Visit www.facebook.com/ECCProjectBackpack/.