Community Corner
Area Organizations Striving to Give Kids School Supplies
Backpacks, lunch bags, glue sticks, highlighters and crayons can be out of reach for the financially struggling.
A new backpack full of all the school supplies needed for a successful year of learning is not something every child has. For those with financial obstacles, back-to-school season presents a hurdle that area organizations are striving to help kids overcome.
It’s Our Little Secret, The Salvation Army and Grafton Township partnered together to collect and distribute new backpacks, and grade-specific supplies too, for children whose parents applied for assistance — and for children in the foster care system.
“It’s hard to imagine what it’s like to be in foster care and never have something new,” said Kristie Samms-Faulkner, CEO/executive director of It’s Our Little Secret. “That is very hard on self esteem.”
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The nonprofit organization, at 12201 Sinnett St., Huntley, has collected new backpacks and supplies that had to meet certain criteria. The organization also works to support children who have been abused.
“Our guideline for donations is, ‘Is it something you would give to your own child?’ ” she said. “If it’s not, then it’s not appropriate for” the recipients.
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The idea is to give the children more than just the most simple, basic, plain backpack, or something from a rummage sale or used by another person, she said, adding, “It’s got to be something cool."
But children outside the foster care system also face financial challenges and can apply for assistance through Grafton Township, at 10109 Vine St., Huntley.
Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore said their role enabled families to apply for assistance and to pickup the donated backpacks and supplies Friday afternoon at the office. More than three dozen children were expected.
“We’d love to get more donations of supplies coming in,” said Moore. “This year, we just didn’t get as many donations, but the need is just as high as last year.”
The Salvation Army coordinated the actual collection of the backpacks, Moore said.
Donations are still needed for new backpacks, binders, pens, pencils, highlighters, glue sticks, lunch bags, flash drives, scientific calculators, crayons, pocket folders, paper, facial tissues and paper towels. Samms-Faulkner said cash donations are also welcome, and is used toward more costly items, such as scientific calculators.
More information is available at www.itsourlittlesecret.org, www.graftontownship.us, or www.salarmycl.org.
