Back 2 School Illinois

The first year that Back 2 School Illinois (B2SI) sent out school supply kits, they helped 175 kids. Since then, they’ve distributed over 300,000 kits to students in need! With a mission to create and support educational opportunities that enrich the lives of Illinois children, B2SI provides an amazing service for students, their families and teachers.

1. What does Back 2 School Illinois do?
   We are a non-profit, and our main initiative is providing school supplies in the form of back-to-school kits. Education is the cornerstone to our society, and we want to ensure that all children have the keys to success no matter their economic background. One-third of this country is low-income, and there are millions of families struggling with everyday financial issues like paying for rent or food, and often school supplies don’t make the cut. And, that’s exactly why what we do is so important, as it reduces that burden on the family. If we want kids to get a good education and feel confident with themselves, we need to give them the tools to succeed.
   

2. What goes into these Back 2 School kits, and how does the program work?
   Our kits include thirty vital items such as pens, pencils, and notebooks, and we have four different kit options that are grade-appropriate. We want to help students build confidence. Each style of kit contains the same elements, and uniformity is important to avoid jealously. One of our initiatives is called Build-A-Kit, which allows companies to purchase school supplies in bulk and assemble them into kits. Once assembled, the kits are distributed to schools, government agencies, and community organizations. It’s a great teambuilding activity, and it’s been one key factor in our growth.
   

3. How can people get involved?
   There’s a lot of ways that people can help B2SI. You can make donations, become a sponsor of our program or one of our events, or companies can opt to host a Build-A-Kit. We also have a program called “Notes of Inspiration”, where you can order cards, write notes of encouragement for students, and mail them back to us to be included in a kit. The notes help to further boost the self-esteem of our kit recipients.
   

4. Do you assist teachers as well?
   Yes. As we all know, one of the impacts of the pandemic is that it has hit the teaching profession very hard. Teachers are exhausted from the challenges that arose, and they already had a difficult enough job before the impact of COVID. There has been a marked increase in the number of teachers leaving the profession. Teachers spend about $500 a year out of their own pocket for school supplies, and by providing students with our Back 2 School kits, we are also reducing the pressure on teachers. We recently created a “We Appreciate Teachers” initiative, where teachers can be nominated to receive kits for their classroom, a gift basket of goods for themselves, and an invitation to a champagne reception recognizing their work. Acknowledging teachers importance and the critical role they play in educating children and the impact it has on our society is necessary to ensure the teaching profession remains a healthy one
   

   Follow the journey on Facebook and Instagram, and join us on June 18th for the Build-A-Kit Event in Northcenter Town Square! Want to get involved? Sign up to volunteer, or make a donation here.