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Health & Fitness

McGaw YMCA and Partners Distribute 800 Free School Supply Kits

The McGaw YMCA is distributing 800 school supply kits to grade school and middle school kids in our community for the start of school.  Through its Back 2 School program, the Illinois Currency Exchange Charitable Foundation makes a yearly donation to the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, which in turn reaches out to other YMCAs in the area to help distribute the supplies to over 20,000 children who might not otherwise be able to afford the supplies they need to get them through the school year.

For the third year, the McGaw YMCA is working with partner agencies such as Family Focus and YOU to identify families who are trying to stretch their limited resources to meet the kids’ needs for school. The supplies go not just to kids in the programs, but to their brothers and sisters as well.  Monique Parsons, Chief Operating Officer of the McGaw YMCA, said: “We are very happy that Chicago Metro keeps thinking of us and that we can make a difference here in Evanston. When families receive the kits there’s a sigh of relief because it helps replenish supplies throughout the school year.”

These supplies also help support teachers, who often end up purchasing supplies with their own money so that no child feels left out in the classroom. The kits come in packaged in a briefcase-style box and are age/grade appropriate. Ms. Parsons added: “The kits help make the kids excited to start school now that they are prepared, and help stop families from feeling bad when they can’t buy new supplies for their kids. We are able to send a kid home with school supplies for everyone.”

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