Uptown Back-To-School Event: Free Backpacks, School Supplies

CHICAGO — Another back-to-school bash will be held on the North Side, courtesy of the 46th Ward office. The event will be held this Saturday, Aug. 25 at Clarendon Park (4501 N. Clarendon). The first 150 kids to arrive at the park will receive free backpacks and school supplies, Ald. James Cappleman announced in a letter to residents.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and include a free noon performance by CircEsteem, free children's books, free food, sign-ups for the new CPS universal preschool program and free vision screening, the alderman said.

The gathering will also offer a CityKey mobile site. The city clerk's office will issue around 100 of the IDs on a first come, first-served basis, Cappleman said.

"Those attending will have to wait outside the field house for about one hour while the Clerk's office hands out numbers to those in line," the alderman explained in his letter. "Once all of the numbers have been distributed, those who received a number will be allowed to go inside the field house to wait for the rest of the process."

The 46th Ward office's last back-to-school event this past Saturday was "very successful," Cappleman said.

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