August 9, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sports & Recreation Center
1765 S 4th Street, DeKalb

Join us for food, music, games, and more! This event is free and open to everyone. No registration is required. Children must be present to receive a backpack.

For the last 12 years, New Hope Missionary Baptist Church and Project HOPE have proudly partnered with other churches, organizations, and the community to serve as a resource, providing backpacks and school supplies to families. We are proud to continue to help meet the needs of our community and are gearing up for this year’s event.

Volunteers Needed

Help us make a difference in our community! We're looking for volunteers to support our Back to School Bash. Opportunities include event setup, general event assistance, clean-up, and helping with food distribution through the Northern Illinois Food Bank. You can also join us on Friday, August 8 to help stuff backpacks at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church.

Whether you're looking to give back, earn service hours, or get involved locally, we’d love to have you on our team!

2025 School Supply Drive

Thank you to everyone who donated resources, stuffed backpacks, or volunteered!! Our 2024 goal was to distribute 1,000 backpacks to families, and we did it! Let’s keep that momentum going for this year! The cost with supplies is $20 per backpack. Please use the form below to donate today.