West40 is partnering with a local community college to ensure local students can head back to school with the supplies they need.
Morton College, Cicero, and West40 Intermediate Service Center #2, a nonprofit intermediate service center serving 38 school districts and three co-ops in West Cook County, will be distributing free backpacks and school supplies at their annual Backpack Giveback and Resource Fair.
The event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 10, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Morton College, 3801 S. Central Ave., Cicero, Illinois.
Organizers aim to follow last year’s success, when nearly 3,200 backpacks were distributed and additional donation requests came in after the event.
“We understand the cost of school supplies can add up, but we hope to make this time of year easier for our community members by distributing backpacks and school supplies at no cost,” said Maria-Elena Agrela, a West40 community resource coordinator.
According to the National Retail Federation, for the 2023-24 school year, families with children in elementary through high school planned to spend on average $890 on school supplies, a $25 increase from last school year.
EducationWeek reported that during the COVID-19 pandemic, many school districts across the country decided to shift the cost of school supplies from parents over to the schools, but as COVID relief funds begin to dwindle, many are now returning those costs to parents.
In Illinois, a few school districts including Community Consolidated School District 21, out of Wheeling, will continue to provide all enrolled students with the required school supplies for the 2024-25 school year, but it varies district by district.
Locally, Forest Park School District 91 provided district sponsored school supplies to all students on their first day, said Nurys Uceta-Ramos, director of engagement.
The Backpack Giveback will include notebooks, crayons, pencils, and additional supplies and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis with a limit of one per child.
The annual event will also feature nearly 50 resource vendors on site to help provide additional resources.
West40 serves Oak Park and River Forest District 200, Oak Park School District 97, Proviso Township High School District 209, Forest Park District 91, Riverside Brookfield Township District 208, Riverside School District 97, Lindop District 92 and Westchester School District 92.5 among others. A full list can be found at West40.org.