🎒📚 Join us THIS Saturday, 8/15 for FREE backpacks!
Dear Neighbor,
Our Back to School Fair with Sen. Graciela Guzman and Northwest Center is this weekend! We are incredibly excited for you to join us Saturday, August 15 from 10am to 1pm at Kelvyn Park, 4438 W Wrightwood Ave.
We’ll have free backpacks filled with supplies like notebooks, folders, pencils, pens, erasers, pencil cases, pencil sharpeners, glue sticks, scissors, and more, donated from generous community organizations and businesses.
There will also be a free grocery giveaway from the Zakat Foundation for the first few hundred families. Backpacks and groceries will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis, until we run out of supplies and food.
The BlueCross BlueShield/CDPH Van will be there to provide vaccinations. You can register for a vaccine appointment here: http://tinyurl.com/55h6ts9s. And the Humboldt Park Health Dental Van will also be joining us for dental check-ups and to give out toothbrushes and hygiene kits.
Local Hermosa business Epic Studio will be providing free haircuts for kids to get that fresh, first day-of-school look! And there will be a variety of other resources, services and family activities, like city and state agencies, local community organizations, and even a video gaming truck!
We're also looking for volunteers for the fair to help with setting up tables, checking-in attendees, passing out backpacks and supplies, cleaning up the park after the event, and much more. For more details and to sign up for a volunteer shift, check out this form.
Every year, my office looks forward to closing out the summer by helping prepare students and families for the school year ahead. We hope to see you there!
All my best,
Will
Working Family Office Hours
On the last Tuesdays of the month, on August 25 and September 29, stop by my office, 3001 N Central Park Ave, from 12 to 7pm for Working Family Office Hours! These extended hours are meant for individuals and families who need assistance navigating state agencies and resources but aren't able to stop by during the regular workday.
Legislative Town Hall
Join Northwest side progressive state legislators Rep. Lilian Jimenez, Sen. Graciela Guzman, Sen. Omar Aquino, and me on Tuesday, August 18 from 5:30 to 7:30pm at Grace and Peace Church, 1856 N Leclaire Ave. for a legislative town hall! You’ll hear about our progressive wins this last legislative session and discuss what we’re still fighting for! Food and refreshments will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Be sure to RSVP here: bit.ly/2026LTH.
Back to School State Sales Tax Holiday
From Friday, August 7 through Sunday, August 16, there will be a Back to School State Sales Tax Holiday that will allow for families to pay lower sales taxes on the purchases they need to prepare their kids for the upcoming school year.
Throughout Illinois, the state sales tax will be reduced on school and office supplies like paper, pens, pencils, calculators, backpacks, and lunchboxes, as well as on certain pieces of clothing like school uniforms and seasonal apparel like coats, rain jackets, swimwear, hats, and gloves. Learn more about the sales tax holiday and on qualifying items here.
Koz Park Fall Program Schedule and Kickball League
Fall fun starts here! Registration for Chicago Park District fall programs is now open. Online registration begins on August 3, and in-person registration begins August 8. Visit chicagoparkdistrict.com to explore programs, find registration dates, and sign up today!
Additionally, Koz Park is launching a Friday Night Kickball League from September 11 through November 6.
Northwest Side CDC Neighborhood Retail Activation Program
Belmont Cragin has 74,283 residents spending $61.4 million a year on entertainment and recreation, served by just 17 arts and entertainment businesses. For the right business, that’s an open field. Northwest Side CDC’s Neighborhood Retail Activation Program has open applications on a rolling basis. Learn more and apply attinyurl.com/RootedInBelmontCragin.