This year, the reported average back-to-school costs per child reached nearly $700. For low- and moderate-income families, the excitement surrounding annual Back to School rituals is offset by the anxiety about paying for the essential materials.
Thanks to the generosity of dozens of individual and corporate donors, more than 120 children and their families served through Hephzibah’s foster care and intact family programs were able to get the supplies they needed, along with some additional perks like haircuts, shoes and clothing. For families who were not able to attend the event, staff prepared more than 60 backpacks for children to ensure they had what they needed to start the school year off right.
In the weeks leading up to the August 7 Back to School Shopping Day, thousands of items including backpacks, notebooks, pens/pencils, folders, markers, calculators, binders and more poured through the doors thanks to generosity of Second Bridge, MRI, the Peninsula Hotel Chicago, Fox Sports Chicago, Pepsico, Enchanted Backpacks, Olenick Corp and many individual donors. More than 40 volunteers, including employees of Pepsico and teens from the Calvary Memorial Church youth group in Oak Park, helped unload and organize tables full of supplies and helped as personal shoppers for parents throughout the event.
“We got everything that we needed and then some,” reported the mother of three elementary school-aged children, currently receiving Intact Family Services.
Another client said she not only got all the items for her four children (a preschooler, 1st grader, 5th grader and sophomore) needed, but she was also able to get school supplies for herself as she is headed to school this fall to be trained as a medical assistant. Holding back tears as the staff and volunteers helped her load the items in her car, she said “I was struggling with how I was going to pay rent and get all of the things that we would need for school. I would never be able to afford all of these supplies for my children or myself without Hephzibah’s help – you are lifesavers!”
Multiple families traveled hours by bus just to attend the event and were stunned when they walked out with bags full of supplies. Many took advantage of free haircuts provided by volunteer Travis Folletti Kimpel of Kelly Cardenas Salon and Stylz 4 Kids, as well as other donated items including shoes, boots, clothing and personal care supplies.
Hephzibah collects supplies throughout the year for the annual Back to School Shopping Day. The most needed items include Expo markers, highlighters, calculators and graphing calculators, combination locks, memory sticks, post it notes, binder dividers, rolls of tape and lunchboxes. To donate items, contact Juliet Yera, Director of Development.
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