Community collaborates on Get Ready for School event

The first day of school is right around the corner, and with that came the 17th annual Get Ready for School event.

Held at Faith Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights, on Aug. 9, Get Ready for School is a community collaboration that provides families that qualify with resources and supplies for the upcoming school year. This year, 275 backpacks were given out.

While the beginning of the school year can bring a lot of excitement, it also can carry a lot of stress. The goal of Get Ready for School is to help alleviate some of that pressure for families.

Upon arriving at the church, families from Arlington Heights School District 25 and Community Consolidated School District 59 were given school supplies and new backpacks, which were donated by community sponsors. The families could then walk around the resource fair, where they met with a multitude of local organizations such as the Arlington Heights Police and Fire departments, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Good Neighbors Network and more.

Free haircuts donated by local hairdressers were also available, and Kona Ice provided free frozen treats.

"The Get Ready for School group was so excited to go back to our roots this year and host a resource fair with community partners and free haircuts for students," said Lana O'Brien, executive assistant to District 25's superintendent and the school district's Get Ready for School event representative.

"It is so special to see all of the families with smiles on their faces getting excited for a new school year."

Get Ready for School event partners included: Kiwanis Club of Arlington Heights, Faith Lutheran Church, District 25, District 59, Arlington Cares N.F.P., Sherwin Ace Hardware, village of Arlington Heights, Arlington Heights Police Department, Arlington Heights Fire Department, Cook County Bus Company, The Salvation Army and the Good Neighbors Network.