Volunteering isn’t always fun. At least that’s what Supplies for Dreams cofounder Hiro Kawashima says. But with the non-profits upcoming event, Build-a-Backpack Day—aimed at providing school supplies to 1,000 low-income Chicago Public School students—Kawashima hopes to foster an enjoyable volunteer experience.

“We could have made packaging backpacks not as fun; we could have told people, ‘Okay, here’s a backpack, put stuff in it,’” said Kawashima, a Weinberg junior. Instead, Kawashima organized an all-day event—set to take place Aug. 1 on Norris’ East Lawn—consisting of backpack-making, live music and free food.

For Kawashima, Build-a-Backpack Day is a small but significant effort to address a long-standing problem in the Chicago Public Schools. The event aims to supply backpacks and a year’s worth of supplies to low-income students at three recipient schools and community centers throughout Chicago.

“About 85% of the students in Chicago Public Schools come from low-income families, and over 10,000 students a year are considered homeless,” said Kawashima. “You can promote college counseling, you can promote so many things, but if you don’t give school supplies to begin with, there’s no way you’re giving these students an opportunity to learn.”

Christy Beighe-Byrne, director of the mentoring program at the Chicago Youth Centers, slated to receive 264 backpacks, said school supplies are a necessity for successful education but low-income households don’t prioritize them. “(Students) are not prepared. They feel inadequate compared to their peers, and then they underperform. It’s a cycle of oppression, really,” said Beighe-Byrne.

By providing each student with a backpack of notebooks, pencils, pens, folders, binders and index cards, Beigh-Byrne says Supplies for Dreams is “empowering”for her students.
Saturday’s Build-a-Backpack Day will also be a step up from last year’s event, which provided 100 backpacks and 357 supply kits to students.

And it’s certainly a far cry from the pet project the organization started as when Kawashima co-founded it during his senior year at New Trier High School.

Kawashima didn’t know whether he would be able to continue the organization at NU. “I thought, let’s give it a shot,” said Kawashima. “So I got a few people together freshman year, and we…started building it from the ground up on campus.”  Supplies for Dreams maintains a staff of 21 people with a base of operations at NU.

And despite its limited budget as a non-profit, Supplies for Dreams does make a difference, Kawashima said. “We’re not expecting to overhaul the education system one backpack at a time—that’s not our goal. We’re playing an active role in helping these students grow.”

For Beighe-Byrne’s students, though, the supplies are invaluable. “When I found out we got accepted as recipients, I was a little teary-eyed,” said Beighe-Byrne. “It really has a huge impact on our kids.”