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Elgin community has students' back at annual school supplies giveaway

Mosquitoes and grasshoppers, but no pillows, made for an unquiet night, but the Menchaca family didn't mind missing sleep to be first in the door at Elgin Community College's Project Backpack giveaway Saturday.

Elgin Area School District U-46 10th-grader Jessica Menchaca, 15, and her brothers Emilio, 13, and Bryant, 12, received cheers from an army of volunteers at the annual event that distributes free school supplies to students in need.

The Menchacas were the first but not the only people who kept an overnight vigil outside the Spartan Events Center to be sure of receiving aid.

Buying notebooks, pens, paper and other necessities can add up, said Jessica, who wants to pay it forward when she starts her career as a teacher or doctor.

"I want to volunteer at Project Backpack when I'm older," the teen said.

Empowering deserving students is a central part of Project Backpack, ECC student life coordinator Katie Storey said. The initiative has helped more than 10,000 students since 2010, thanks to donations from the Elgin community.

Despite a gradual fall in the unemployment rate, "there's a great need that still exists," Storey said. A helping hand inspires kids and "lets them know college is attainable."

About 3,000 backpacks were prepared for families within ECC, Community Unit District 300 and U-46's boundaries. Last year more than 2,000 backpacks were given out.

About 25 organizations, such as the YWCA and Northern Illinois Food Bank, along with a pack of friendly comfort dogs were on hand to provide assistance and information.

Organizers noted school supplies can be expensive for families with multiple kids where parents are having a tough time making ends meet.

"It's like Christmas all over again when they see the tables with the backpacks filled with all the supplies … they're so excited," volunteer Yvonne Irving of Cary said.

  Families wait in line outside the Spartan Center at Elgin Community College for free school supplies Saturday at the college's annual Project Backpack event. The line wrapped around the edge of the building but moved at a good pace. Last year, more than 2,000 backpacks with school supplies were handed out to local families in need. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  Volunteer Gaby Dolan, 7, of Bartlett finds a pink backpack to fulfill a request at the annual Project Backpack event Saturday at Elgin Community College. This is the second year Gaby and her family volunteered at the event. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  Bryant Menchaca, 12, of Elgin gets help from his big sister, Jessica, 15, as they collect additional school supply items during the annual Project Backpack event Saturday at Elgin Community College. Their brother, Emilio, 13, is in back. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  William Guerrero, 7, of Elgin zips up his new backpack after adding writing instruments to it at the annual Project Backpack event Saturday at Elgin Community College. He made sure to keep out the little stuffed animal he was given so he could carry it separately. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
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