Back to School Alliance

08/09/2025

We'd like to thank Zentech and The Credit Union for All for helping us collect so many great backpacks and school supplies this year. See photos below!

Also, not pictured but every bit as supportive: Carle Healthcare Clinic, OSF Family Practices, and All About Hair for their huge help and donations!

*You can still donate at The Hair King and Grove Street Bakery for the next two weeks!

08/08/2025

08/08/2025

08/07/2025

Thank you for your continued support of the Back 2 School Alliance and your care for our students and community. We want to clarify a few things, as we know there may be some misunderstandings.
With hundreds of classrooms across multiple schools — each with its own unique supply list — it's simply not possible to provide customized kits. Instead, we focus on core, high-need items that are useful across grade levels. While not every item may match a student’s exact list, we are confident the supplies can be put to good use either at school or at home.

All donations and funds raised go directly to purchasing school supplies. The backpacks are intentionally selected to ensure durability and long-term use — and we’ve received consistent feedback that families appreciate receiving them.

We know the wait can be long, and we’re always working to improve logistics. But we also know from hundreds of grateful families each year that this event makes a meaningful difference.

We always welcome feedback and ideas, and we’re committed to continuous improvement — but we also want to be clear about the scope, purpose, and impact of this event. Thank you again for being part of the effort to support our students.

08/06/2025

Free shuttles will run every hour between 11:30 AM and 4:30 PM at 7 locations to get families to the Back 2 School Alliance event at State Farm South tomorrow (Aug. 7th). We are giving away free backpacks, school supplies, and Bison Hockey tickets!

Eligible families should have received emails with an online registration link. If you haven't registered, please do so now!. If you didn't receive an email and think you should have, email [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you there 😀

🧡

07/28/2025

✏️We collect school supplies and donations for Back To School Alliance, which gives a backpack full of supplies to local kids who need one! Such an easy way to help your community ✏️

07/25/2025

07/25/2025

9 Ga***rd boxes of filled backpacks! Each box has about 200 backpacks inside. You are looking at almost half of backpacks we will distribute on August 7th to McLean County U5 and District 87 students that meet income and registration requirements for the upcoming school year. Thank you Midwest Food Bank for allowing us to pack and store our backpacks every year. . Back to School Alliance !

07/19/2025

Wow- take your school supplies to Casey's Garden Shop and get a great deal!!