Back to School Festival offers free supplies to local families

With back-to-school season about to get underway, Aglow International Matteson Single Moms is making sure students have access to school supplies regardless of income.

Set for 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3, Aglow’s Back to School Festival takes place at Richton Park Community Center, 4455 Sauk Trail, Richton Park. In addition to school supply distribution, the event features a variety of fun family activities, games and free food.

“We’re planning a good old-fashioned get together,” said Lisa White, Director of Marketing for Aglow International Matteson Single Moms. “We started this to be a blessing to the community.”

Created in 2012, Aglow International Matteson Single Moms hosts a wide range of events for area single mothers, including spa days and other activities. The Back to School Festival evolved from those events, in an effort to offer something just for the children.

“Last year we were able to impact more than 50 families and almost 200 total people,” White said. “When you can help moms and their children meet some of their needs, it lessens stress for the family and gets the school year off on the right foot.”

In addition to games and other activities, the fest includes a fire truck visit and fun vehicles on display from Gerald Auto Group. Gerald has multiple dealerships in Matteson, including Gerald Honda, Gerald Kia, Gerald Toyota and Gerald Nissan.

“Coordinating with businesses like Gerald Auto Group that have a heart for the community makes all the difference,” White said. “Alone, we can do very little, but with partners, we can have a meaningful impact on the lives of so many more people. It grows our reach exponentially.”

Gerald Auto Group takes pride in supporting the community through events like the Back to School Festival.

“We are thrilled to offer assistance to local families,” said Donna Lawler of the Gerald Auto Group. “The Back to School Festival brings joy to children, and sponsoring this event annually allows us to make a positive difference in our community.”

For more information on the Back to School Festival, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/back-to-school-festival-tickets-944962186337.

For more information on Aglow International Matteson Single Moms, visit http://www.aglowsinglemoms.org/.

For more information on Gerald Toyota, Gerald Kia, Gerald Nissan and Gerald Honda of Matteson, visit www.geraldcars.com.