Together We Cope Helps Families Get Ready for School

Caption: Antanas Griffin is ready for school. | Credit: Together We Cope

By Together We Cope

Batman will head to kindergarten wearing a Spiderman backpack this year in Oak Forest, courtesy of the Back to School program at Together We Cope.

The 5-year-old fan of the superhero characters is among more than 1,200 youngsters starting the school year in style with brand new backpacks filled with fresh school supplies from the Tinley Park-based agency.

“It’s awesome,” said Melissa Griffin, whose Batman-loving son, Antanas, and daughters, Lily and Melany, were among the area families invited to benefit from this year’s program. “Kids love having new stuff at the beginning of the school year.”

The Back to School program is well supported by the community. Hundreds of donors responded generously to TWC’s request for a $20 gift, which covered the cost of providing a backpack and a pre-packed box of school supplies appropriate to each grade level for one child. Others made additional donations of school supplies, some of which TWC was happy to share with area students served by the PACE system for children with disabilities.

Families also received a coupon for a free haircut for each child at Sports Clips in Tinley Park and a clothing voucher worth $25 per child at Nu2u, the agency’s popular resale store at 17010 S. Oak Park Ave.

One woman who is raising three grandchildren was teary-eyed as she accepted the backpacks and school supplies.

“I don’t know how I would make it without this kind of help from Together We Cope,” she said.

Kathryn Straniero, executive director of TWC, added: “It’s essential for children to be prepared so they can succeed in the classroom. And it’s wonderful to see the kids so happy to start the school year. We are so glad we can partner with the community to support education this way.”

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