Supplies Needed for Schools, Students
The annual “Citywide Back to School Rally” will return to an in-person event this year, providing school supplies and an end of summer celebration for Michigan City families. The rally will take place on Saturday, August 14 from noon to 4 p.m. at Elston’s Gill Field, 317 Detroit Street, Michigan City. This event, which has taken place every summer for more than 10 years, is highly anticipated by the community every year, says Patricia Harris of the Indiana Black Expo, who chairs the Citywide Back to School Rally committee.
“We know that many families in our community struggle to provide necessary school supplies – especially during the difficult times we all experienced over the past year and half,” she said. “This rally helps us ensure that every student in Michigan City is prepared for school in the fall.”
Approximately 2,000 students and their families are expected to attend this year, and each student will receive a backpack filled with grade-appropriate school supplies. Also available at the Back to School Rally will be free food, exhibits, activities, and COVID-19 vaccinations. To attend, families must be residents of Michigan City or attend Michigan City Area Schools, and students receiving supplies must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Parents should bring an ID or proof of residency, such as a utility bill with a Michigan City address.
The Citywide Back to School Rally is a collaborative effort supported by numerous businesses and community agencies. This year, the organizing committee includes representatives from Indiana Black Expo, the La Porte County NAACP, Anthem, Franciscan Health, Michigan City Area Schools, Healthy Communities of La Porte County, La Porte Family YMCA, American Licorice and Sodexo.
Title sponsors this year include Franciscan Health, American Licorice Company, Meijer, Comcast, Attorney Dan Granquist and Indiana Black Expo.
In conjunction with the Back to School Rally, a school supply drive is also being held to collect much-needed classroom supplies for the upcoming school year. Items needed include pencils, black pens, spiral notebooks, 3-hole notebook paper (college rule), markers (washable), crayons, dry erase markers, glue sticks, erasers, 2-pocket folders, rulers, highlighters, composition books, calculators, pencil boxes, water bottles, facial tissues, hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes, quart and gallon size Ziploc bags, earbuds and headphones.
These items can be dropped off at collection sites including Al’s Supermarkets (Franklin and Karwick), Captain Ed’s, City Hall, First Trust Credit Union, First United Methodist Church, General Insurance Services, MCAS Food Service Department, Members Advantage Credit Union, Swanson Center, Michigan City Chamber of Commerce and the MCAS Administration Building now through August 8; and at Walmart from August 6 through 8.
For more information about the event – including information about sponsorships and exhibits – visit www.EducateMC.net/backtoschoolrally.