Organizers of next month's Back to School Bash in Carbondale are in need of donations.
Event coordinator Nancy Maxwell with the Women's Center says they need pencils, crayons, notebooks, folders, scissors, glue and especially backpacks for students from the fourth grade on up.
Maxwell says fewer donations are coming in this year compared to last year, something she blames on the economy.
"I'm thinking that maybe due to budget cuts and layoffs in this area that that might be a factor in the donations not coming in as greatly as they did last year."
Maxwell says they distributed book bags to 500 students last year and organizers would like to at least match that number this year.
Donations can be dropped off at the Women's Center in Carbondale and the African American Museum of Southern Illinois inside University Mall in Carbondale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The bash will offer free dental exams, clothing, and food.
Maxwell says there will be plenty of information available for adults too.
"Four employment agencies will be out there with applications for jobs. Then there will be other social service agencies, health agencies."
Maxwell says there will also be an official from Springfield on hand for those who would like to explore how to expunge their criminal record in hopes it will improve their prospects of landing a job.
The event itself is August 13th from 1-5 p.m. at the Eurma Hayes Center in Carbondale.