On Saturday, August 5 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., we will be hosting our annual school supply distribution event, Backpack Blowout! Through Backpack Blowout, school supplies and dental care are provided to children and families in need at no cost.

Here is some important information for families attending the event:

Limited supplies are available and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to residents of Madison County, IL. Parents/guardians are required to show proof of Madison County residency (driver’s license, recent utility bill, etc.).

All children must be present to receive supplies.

All families are responsible for their own transportation to and from the event.

Dental Safari is a mobile dental company that provides exams, cleanings, fluoride, and sealants as needed for children from birth to 19 years old. Dental Safari will provide free dental check-ups for those who want to participate, located in the Large Activities Room ( A115 ) during the event.

Volunteer Information

Through Backpack Blowout, we are able to distribute school supplies to hundreds of families. This would not be possible without our volunteers and sponsors! We need your help to distribute and pack the supplies. We are in need of volunteers to help pack backpacks, as well as to help hand out backpacks at the event. We will gather for a volunteer meeting on Sunday, July 23 at 6 p.m. for more information. The teams we need are as follows:

Sunday, July 30 at 3 p.m. we will need a team of 8 or more to help unload supplies.

Tuesday , August 1 and Wednesday, August 2 we will need a team of 15 or more to help pack backpacks before the event. We will have two time slots available for both days. (9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 11 a.m.-3 p.m.)

Saturday, August 5 we will need volunteers to help us hand out the supplies and keep things running smoothly, we will additionally need a team of 15 or more to help with post-event clean up.

Follow the links below to support Backpack Blowout and help us provide aid to hundreds of children. Please submit sponsorships by July 30.

Volunteers should attend our volunteer meeting on Sunday, July 23 at 6 p.m. in the Chapel to learn more about their role in this amazing event! Other opportunities to volunteer include joining one of our teams for packing bags, distributing supplies, and day-of clean up. Follow the links below to be a sponsor or to volunteer.