Lightford provides over 800 community residents with backpacks full of school supplies

BROOKFIELD — Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) hosted her 12th annual free Uplift Our Future back-to-school event serving more than 800 community residents with a fun free day at the Brookfield Zoo with no admission fee, no parking fee, no lunch fee and no charge for backpacks full of school supplies for kindergarten through middle school students.

“As we continue to battle this pandemic, our families still need fun experiences, especially if they help our students prepare for the upcoming school year,” Lightford said. “The 12th Annual Uplift Our Future Free Back-to-School Event was amazing, and I’m grateful to all of the sponsors, vendors, volunteers and families who came out to support our kids this year.”

Since 2009, Lightford has hosted a free back-to-school event for youth and families in the 4th Senate District at the Brookfield Zoo.

This year, Lightford was also honored to partner with the Illinois Department of Health and Family Services, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and the Illinois Department of Public Health. Illinois to provide vaccines against COVID-19.

“Our state needs to get back to normal, and the only solution at this time is to ensure that all eligible Illinois residents have access to vaccinations,” Lightford said.