Chicago Public Schools families preparing to go back to school on Monday
More than 300,000 Chicago Public Schools students head back to school Monday, meaning a busy final weekend of summer for many families.
On Friday, a group of kids in Englewood got a huge boost from a back-to-school bash where each student received a new backpack full of supplies. The Englewood Community Action Council partnered with CPS to organize the event to support neighborhood schools
"This is our 6th year doing this. We want all the families to just get hyped up and ready for start of school. School starts on Monday," said Englewood Community Action Council co-chair Denise Dyer. "We reached out to other community organizations who contributed money. We had people contribute food."
Donations also included services like haircuts, in addition to the nearly 1,000 backpacks that were given away.
Tresey Millsab was grateful her two children were able to get the backpacks of school supplies.
"It just warms my heart just to know that we have a community that comes together to provide for the needy and less fortunate. It's real nice," she said.
While the backpacks and haircuts were great, a nonprofit in Pilsen was helping students get ready to go back to school with the power of prayer
"Reduce violence, increase relationships, build community, and get our kids back to school, and get them on the right track," said Resurrection Project CEO Raul Raymundo.
The Resurrection Project consists of six Catholic parishes who make it point to come to town squares and lift pupils up with prayer and purpose. In 1990, frustrated residents banded together with the goal of restoring peace and safety. Now, 36 years later, the Pilsen community continues to show it's resilience.
"Praying for peace, praying for the safety of our streets, in our schools especially," said Father Gary Graf, pastor of Our Lady of the Heights Parish.
This year's theme, entitled "love thy neighbor," runs deep in the Pilsen community and beyond.
"So that we can have the children families all gathering, acting on their faith and values, and preparing themselves for wonderful academic year," Raymundo said.
