The Midwest Film Festival, in partnership with Mezcla Media Collective, is thrilled to unveil our "Back to School Drive", which runs from June 24th to July 29th. This heartfelt initiative is designed to provide meaningful support to single-income, women-led families in the Chicago area.
Our goal is ambitious but achievable: we aim to fill 100 backpacks with essential school supplies for children across various age groups.
Donation Methods:
-
Contribute through our carefully curated Amazon Shopping List to be shipped directly. (Preferred method)
-
Drop off at Camera Ambassador (2425 W 14TH ST, Chicago, IL 60608) Monday through Friday, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
-
Drop off at The Gene Siskel Film Center on July 29th during our screening event.
​
This drive will culminate at MFF's Advertising Community Night at The Gene Siskel Film Center on July 29th. During this event, we will celebrate the kindness of our community and highlight the profound impact these contributions will have on the lives of those families we aim to support.
​
Supply List:
We hope to gather supplies for children across five different age groups, with 20 backpacks dedicated to each group. The list of supplies is based on recommendations from Chicago Public Schools and is tailored to the needs of each age group:
​
-
Pre-K Through Kindergarten: Large pencils, large crayons, washable markers, scissors, glue sticks, Kleenex, paper towels.
-
Grades 1 to 3: Pencils, pocket folders, notebooks, crayons, washable markers, pencil-top erasers, supply box, glue sticks, scissors, ruler, Kleenex, paper towels.
-
Grades 4 to 6: Pencils, pocket folders, notebooks, crayons, washable markers, pencil-top erasers, supply box, glue sticks, scissors, ruler, Kleenex, paper towels, pocket folders, watercolor paints, sketch pads.
-
Grades 7 and 8: Pencils, pocket folders, notebooks, crayons, washable markers, pencil-top erasers, supply box, glue sticks, scissors, ruler, Kleenex, paper towels, pocket folders, watercolor paints, sketch pads, colored pencils, spiral notebooks, wide-ruled notebook paper, additional folders, dictionary, calculator, assignment notebook.
-
Grades 9 to 12: Pencils, pocket folders, notebooks, crayons, washable markers, pencil-top erasers, supply box, glue sticks, scissors, ruler, Kleenex, paper towels, pocket folders, watercolor paints, sketch pads, colored pencils, spiral notebooks, wide-ruled notebook paper, additional folders, dictionary, calculator, assignment notebook, subject-specific supplies provided by teachers.
​
Your contributions, whether large or small, can make a significant difference and ensure that every child has the tools they need to succeed in the upcoming school year. We eagerly look forward to your participation in the drive!
Remember, financial donations are also deeply appreciated and will be used to purchase additional school supplies.
Your support is integral in making this back-to-school season a bit brighter for families in need!
For any questions or inquiries, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at info@midwestfilm.com.