The basic mission of the Back to School Alliance has historically been to encourage and motivate families to complete school registration and health requirements so their school age children can begin school on Day One. When those requirements are met, qualifying students are eligible to receive a backpack filled with supplies at a great party that kicks off the new school year.
The Back to School Alliance is already gearing up for the start of the 2011-2012 school year. That means the effort to ensure that all of our children are prepared to start school in August 2011 is underway. We’ll be engaged in many tasks: setting up and staffing supply drives, sorting supplies, packing backpacks and participating in the celebratory event that is the Back to School Party.
The Bloomington-Normal community has built an impressive track record for coming together to support student success. Volunteers have come from all corners and groups. We even had bus loads of Kiwani members, here for a state conference, who donated their time last year. The 2010 party was a beautiful event and smiles were abundant on the faces of volunteers, recipients, and their families. We’re confident that we will carry on that tradition this August. The party this year is scheduled for August 11th, from 5-7 PM, at the US Cellular Coliseum.
In past years, you or your group has participated in this effort, providing thousands of backpacks to students meeting school registration requirements. We’re inviting you to consider joining this rewarding initiative again. We’re looking forward to a repeat of the the 2009 and 2010 experiences, with volunteers from throughout our community united in joyful work for our children’s education.
Please consider joining the 2011 Back to School Alliance. We have posted an on-line survey, giving volunteers an opportunity to make a commitment to this year’s work and indicate areas in which they’d like to be involved. We’ll get additional information and options to respondents after this initial survey. The survey can be accessed through this link: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/548562/Back-to-School-Alliance-2011-Volunteers
Collection Sites for Back to School Supplies
- GLT’s PACK THE BUS! event is Friday, July 23 – Saturday, July 24 at Office Depot. Look for the big yellow School Bus in the parking lot.
- GLT’s PACK THE BUS! will be at the Nothin’ But the Blues Festival this weekend (July 16 & 17). Before you leave the Festival, stop by the big yellow School Bus to leave some school supplies to help needy families in McLean County start the school year prepared.
- “STUFF THE BUS!” at the McLean County Fairgroundsduring the McLean County Fair, to run Wednesday, August 3 through Thursday, August 4.
Come to the Fair and receive one FREE admission to the Fair when the following are offered in exchange for a FREE admission! Look for the big yellow school bus by the ticket gate!
Backpack OR
Zipper Binder OR
OR three sets of any of the following:
• 2 glue sticks
• 4 highlighters
• 1 set Binder Dividers
• 2 pkgs. wide-ruled notebook paper
• 2 wide-ruled spiral notebooks, 70 ct
• standard/metric 12″ ruler
• 1 set colored pencils
• 5 pocket folders
• 1 box Markers
• scissors
Community DROP OFF SITES
Volunteers from all over the county are working with the Back to School Alliance to collect backpacks and school supplies to be distributed to children in grades K – 8 whose families may be struggling to afford the needed items as the new school year begins.Several special events have already netted a sizeable collection of items, but more are needed as the group prepares for the Back to School Party at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum, Thursday, August 11, 2011. Numerous drop-off sites have been set up at area businesses and non-profit offices. Big yellow boxes at these locations make it easy for people to donate items, which will be accepted through August 9.
· Bloomington Chiropractic Center, 409 S. Prospect, Bloomington
· Commerce Bank – 120 N. Center St., Downtown Bloomington
· Commerce Bank – 2201 E. Washington St., Bloomington
· Commerce Bank – 2807 E. Empire, Bloomington
· Commerce Bank – 104 Broadway, Uptown Normal
· McLean County Extension Office, 402 N. Hershey Rd., Bloomington
· Katie’s Kids Learning Center – 1602 Glenbridge Rd., Bloomington
· Katie’s Kids Learning Center – 2003 Jacobssen Dr. Normal
· YWCA 1201 N. Hershey Rd. Bloomington
· Unit 5 District Office 1809 W. Hovey Normal
· Mid Central Community Action 1301 W. Washington Bloomington
· YMCA 602 S. Main St Bloomington
· The Pantagraph, 301 W. Washington, Bloomington
Wondering what supplies are needed? CLICK HERE.
How You Can Help
Here’s how YOU can help:
Complete the VOLUNTEER INTEREST SURVEY (click here) to indicate your availability and interests.
Hold a Supply Drive
Photo to the right shows BTS Friends at Country Companies and the results of their in-house BTS collection. Place a collection bin at your office, store or church to collect supplies like notebooks, glue, crayons, and pencils. The donated items will be distributed to children in need at a Back to School Party held in August. If you’d like to sponsor a supply drive, please contact us at BTSchl@gmail.com Supply Donations will be collected through Tuesday, August 9, 2011.
Make a Monetary Donation
Don’t have time to shop? You can make a financial donation toward sponsoring a student, building a backpack or buying supplies.
· $10 provides for whatever school supplies are most needed to complete backpacks
· $15 provides for a backpack or a packet of school supplies
· $20 provides a backpack and school supplies for a student entering grades K-5
· $25 provides a backpack and school supplies for a student entering grades 6-8
· If you would like to sponsor multiple students, or a classroom-please contact us for details
Please make your Financial Contribution to: MCCA (Mid Central Community Action), Attn: Deborah White, 1301 W Washington St., Bloomington, IL 61701
Please add BTS in the memo line.
- To learn more about MCCA, visit: http://www.mccainc.org/
THANK YOU!
For questions or additional information, please email BTSchl@gmail.com
The goal of the Back to School Program is to provide students who qualify* within McLean County with a backpack and essential school supplies to begin the first day of the school year prepared. Backpacks are distributed at the “Back to School Party” – a celebration that kicks off the school year for students with fun, games and food, and a resource fair for parents to explore helpful community programs and services.
* Students who qualify for a free backpack and supplies must be:
· Entering grades K-8
· Enrolled to attend a participating public school in McLean County for Fall 2010
· Meet requirements for Free and Reduced Lunch program, as identified by your school
* Parents must complete the following for their student to qualify:
· Complete all registration requirements of the district for each student in your household, including immunizations and school physical in required grades
· Bring a completed “Passport to the Party” with you to the BTS Party
· Attend and enjoy the Back to School Party with your student!
The collection and distribution of backpacks and school supplies is a community-wide effort designed to help families with the greatest economic needs prepare for the start of a new school year.
