Supplied with Love: SOS Illinois’ 2019 Back-to-School Supply Drive
It’s time for SOS Illinois’ 5th Annual Back-to-School Supply Drive, and their partners at the Fashion Outlets of Chicago have teamed up with SOS Illinois again as this year’s Premier Sponsor!
Each school supply donation alleviates the financial strain of back-to-school for our Foster Parents and sets a child on the path to success!
Summer may still be in full swing, but we are turning our focus toward helping the children in our care that are preparing to start another school year. The 5th Annual Back-to-School Drive continues to carry on a meaningful tradition that was created from the growing desire to assist children in foster care with academic support and resources.
As parents know, school supply shopping really adds up. From notebooks to graphing calculators to art supplies – shopping for one child can be quite pricy! According to the National Retail Federation, parents will spend $26.5 billion on K-12 back-to-school necessities this year. For the Foster Parents at SOS Illinois, shopping for SIX CHILDREN is six times the expense. That’s why our Back-to-School Supply Drive provides much-needed to support to our communities through individual contributions, collections from office supply drives, and generous back-to-school promotions from our corporate partners. Your donations this summer ensure that children in foster care can succeed all academic year!
Beat the Heat: Order School Supplies through Amazon on Our SOS Illinois Wish List
Why face the Chicago heat when you can order right from your home? This year, we’ve made it easier than ever before for you to contribute to making the school year a successful and stress-free one for students and Foster Parents alike. Simply click on the Amazon wishlist link below and instantly order supplies for those in need.
You can choose from this list and ship directly to SOS Illinois, or shop the sales in stores and drop off at any convenient SOS Children’s Villages Illinois location during office hours.
What’s more, you can also donate gift cards to Amazon, Walgreens, Walmart and Target so that our Foster Parents are able to make sure that the children in their care have everything they need to start the school year off right.
SOS Illinois’ Amazon Wish List
We also happily welcome supply drop-off directly at any of our locations listed below. Please deliver school supplies to all Chicago locations by August 23, 2019, and to the Lockport Village location by August 2, 2019. Contact the location that is most convenient for you for additional details:
Lockport Village – Deliver Supplies by August 2
17545 Village Lane
Lockport, IL 60441
P: 815-740-7280
F: 815-740-7282
Administrative Office – Deliver Supplies by August 23
216 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 925
Chicago, IL 60606
P: 312-372-8200
F: 312-372-8202
Chicago Village – Deliver Supplies by August 23
7600 S. Parnell
Chicago, IL 60620
P: 773-783-0500
F: 773-783-0600
Casa Tepeyac – Deliver Supplies by August 23
4538 S. Hermitage
Chicago, IL 60609
P: 773-247-7725
F: 773-247-7794
Roosevelt Square Village – Deliver Supplies by August 23
1200 W. Roosevelt Rd.
Chicago, IL 60608
P: 312-243-1901
F: 312-243-3086
2019 Star Pupil: Fashion Outlets of Chicago
Once again, we are delighted to partner with Fashion Outlets of Chicago as our Premier Sponsor. As part of their annual Back-to-School Celebration, Fashion Outlets of Chicago is inviting guests to visit Concierge Services to receive exclusive offers and incentives, as well as participating in their supply drive.
By donating a new school supply item of a $5 value or more (including the receipt distributed upon purchase), guests will receive a free pass to Chicago’s world-famous Brookfield Zoo. Plus, students and teachers who present their school ID at Concierge Services will receive a free 7-day trial of the Fashion Outlets Savings Pass, available only at the Fashion Outlets of Chicago (a value of $800 in savings).
This promotion begins on July 19 and runs through August 11, 2019. At the end of the promotion, all supplies collected will be donated to SOS Illinois. Learn more about this generous initiative and complete Back-to-School Celebration details at Fashion Outlets of Chicago.
Make a Difference By Contributing Today
In the U.S., there are over 400,000 children in foster care. Contributions and support from individuals and organizations can truly make a difference in helping these children and their families get the school supplies they need, right when they need them. Simple, yet essential items such as a box of sharp crayons or a colorful new binder can give children in foster care the confidence they need to make a fresh start at school.
We encourage you to gather your colleagues together again this year. We are excited to discover what you will help us accomplish for our 4th Annual Back-to-School Supply Drive.
Share your progress and activity on social media, and stay in touch with any questions along the way. Together, by providing essentials like notebooks and pencils, our Foster Parents and children will be able to focus on all the exciting goals they have made for a productive academic year.
It is from these thoughtful contributions that we’ve been able to fill our young students’ backpacks with plenty of school supplies so they can reach their full potential with the tools they need to succeed.