Urgent need for donations for Salvation Army's annual Back-to-School program

Success in school is one of the first steps to break the cycle of poverty in America.

In 2017, The Salvation Army of McHenry County distributed over 1,000 backpacks, filled with school supplies, to children in need in order to help them succeed in the classroom.

For Danny, a 7-year-old, it meant not having to be embarrassed in front of his friends because a generous donor provided a new backpack and new supplies for his first day of school.

Donations for the 2018 Back-to-School program have started coming in, but with an increase in need this year, the donations are much lower than the need.

With only two weeks left until the distribution of school supplies, there is an urgency to receive more school supplies donations at The Salvation Army office, 290 W. Crystal Lake Ave., Crystal Lake.

Major Barbara Owen, executive director of The Salvation Army of McHenry County, states, "We appreciate the past generosity of our community to support children and families in need, and once again we are asking for help with school supplies."

The goal for this year is to provide assistance to 1,100 children, according to Owen, and it can only be accomplished through the generosity of individuals in McHenry County.

Needs list for new and unused supplies: backpacks, 1-inch binders, colored pencils, mechanical pencils,

compass, erasers, eraser caps, folders, bottle glue, glue sticks, highlighters, index cards, broad tip markers, fine tip markers, wide-rule notebook paper, college-rule notebook paper, pencil pouch and case, pencil sharpeners, pens (blue, black and red), protractor, ruler, pointed tip scissors, blunt-tip scissors, wide-rule spiral notebooks, and college-rule spiral notebook.

All donations can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at The Salvation Army of McHenry County, 290 W. Crystal Lake Ave. in Crystal Lake.

For information, call (815) 455-2769.

Financial contributions are also being accepted for the Back-to-School Program either through mail in or drop off to the above location. Online donations can be made at www.salarmycl.org. Please designate to the B2S program.

The Salvation Army has served the communities in McHenry County for more than 27 years of dedicated service. The McHenry County Corps provides meals, clothing, school supplies, toys, financial, and spiritual assistance to those in need. The McHenry County Corps is part of The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division.