2023 - ECC’s Project Backpack provides supplies to local students

Elgin Community College and its partners are preparing for Project Backpack, a community-based initiative to benefit area students in need from school districts U-46, CUSD 300, CSD 301, CUSD 303, D20, or ECC District 509. The committee is coordinating backpacks, school supplies, and/or resources for students in need this fall. 

Supply kits will be provided to the districts for distribution at their discretion prior to the start of the school year. Your child’s school or district will provide any further information. “The Project Backpack Committee is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with local school districts to distribute supplies directly to families once again,” said Megan Highland, ECC student life coordinator and Project Backpack chair.

For ECC students, supplies will be available while supplies last starting August 1, in the Spartan Pantry in Building B, Room B175, between 10 am and 2 pm, Monday through Thursday. Hours may vary once the semester begins on August 21. Proof of fall enrollment and a photo ID will be required.

For questions about receiving a backpack, please reach out to the following contact for your district: 

• School District U-46, Karla Jiménez at 847-888-5000 ext. 4211 or ext. 6768 or KarlaJimenez@u-46.org 
• D300, Jazmin Gongora at gongora@d300.org
• D303, Angela Meisenheimer at meisenheimer@d303.org
• D302, Julie-Ann Fuchs at jfuchs@kaneland.org
• D301, Michelle Vaughn at vaughn@central301.net 
• EMSA, Jacquelyn Willer at jwiller@emsacharter.org
• ECC, Megan Highland at mhighland@elgin.edu or 847-214-7659

Project Backpack accepts monetary donations only again this year to help purchase backpacks and supplies. To make a donation or to learn about sponsorship opportunities, visit project-backback.org. Community members can donate by check, addressed and made payable to: ECC Foundation, 1700 Spartan Dr., Elgin, IL 60123. Please write “Project Backpack” in the memo line.

Local agencies wishing to share their services and programs with families are invited to participate by providing a resource handout that can be inserted into backpacks. For more guidelines and to sign up as an agency participant, please visit project-backpack.org.

The Project Backpack committee includes individuals from Elgin Community College, ECC Faculty Association, ECCP3, Healthcare Plus Elgin, Kane County Regional Office of Education, Kane County Teachers Credit Union, and School District U-46. More than 20,200 students from preschool to college have been served since 2010.

For the most up-to-date information on Project Backpack, follow their Facebook page or visit project-backpack.org.