2024 - More than 1,000 students in Elgin area receive school supplies through Project Backpack

Elgin Community College and its partners served more than 1,000 students on August 3 through Project Backpack, a community-based initiative to benefit area students in need.

Project Backpack celebrated its fifteenth year, with this year being the first time back in person since 2019. The event took place at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, Ill. During the event, backpacks pre-filled with school supplies and agency resource flyers were distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of one backpack per student.

Backpacks went to students from school districts U-46, CUSD 300, CSD 301, CUSD 303, D20, and ECC District 509. More than 22,000 students have been served since Project Backpack began.

“Each year, the Project Backpack Committee comes together to help our community youth,” said Amybeth Maurer, assistant dean of student experience and engagement. “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with local school districts to distribute supplies directly to families so they are prepared and confident when the school year begins.”

The success of the 2024 Project Backpack initiative was accomplished by committee members, volunteers, donors, sponsors, and agencies. The Project Backpack committee extends a special acknowledgment to the following 2024 sponsors and partners:

Gold level Sponsors: ECC Faculty Association, Kane County Regional Office of Education, KCT Credit Union, and the Walmart Foundation

Bronze level sponsors: Susan Cooper, Thomas and Linda Youngren, Bernadette and Ronald Freres, and Wendy Breitmayer.

Event Partners: ECC, ECC Faculty Association, ECC Pension Plan Participants, Kane County Regional Office of Education, KCT Credit Union, and School District U-46.

For more information on Project Backpack, visit project-backpack.org.