BACKPACKIN' INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR. Ahead of the new school year, WECARE Eau Claire is hosting its Back to School event offering ECASD families in need free school supplies. (Submitted photo of previous event)

For the third year in a row, WECARE Eau Claire, a collaboration of 21 Eau Claire churches, is hosting its Back to School event on Monday, Aug. 22, from 4:30-7:30 pm at Phoenix Park.

Eau Claire Area School District families in need can pick up backpacks filled with the required grade-level specific school supplies, all for free. Families are asked to come to the Phoenix Park farmers market pavilion and wait in line for a backpack for each child in their family.

Feed My People Food Bank reps will be there to supply families with groceries, and the Goodwill retail store will be providing a $10 coupon for clothing and supplies from its local store, too. The L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire is also offering books for each child, open to any ECASD family.

WECARE is taking a new approach to stocking for the event this year. In its initial years, it has struggled to fill backpacks with donated supplies, so new backpacks are sought out through donation, and WECARE will fill them with new school supplies bought with monetary donations received. Brand new backpacks are still needed, and anyone interested in volunteering should reach out, as help is needed to pack them prior to the event. 

COVID-19 protocols will be in place. If you are vaccinated, masks aren’t required, though six-foot distancing will be in effect and hand sanitizer available. If you aren’t vaccinated, please follow the guidelines of the Eau Claire County Health Department and CDC.

Details can be found on the WECARE Eau Claire website at www.wecareeauclaire.com or its Facebook page.