The Essential Needs Program helps provide a stable learning foundation for District 200 students and their families in need.  28% of District 200 students live in low-income households; more than 3,200 of 11,750 students receive a free or reduced lunch every school day. 

To ensure we’re addressing needs that prevent students from meeting their full learning potential, we’ve partnered with District 200 school social workers and community volunteers to form an Essential Needs Committee to guide this funding. 

Food insecurity: Each year, we provide families in need with 3,000 boxes of fresh food, including produce and dairy, through monthly mobile food pantries. Additionally, we send over 7,500 Weekend Food Backpacks home with students.

Wet & winter weather gear: Working with school social workers, we provide outerwear for students whose families are struggling to meet those needs.

Learning enrichment needs: In partnership with Wheaton Noon Rotary, we provide backpacks and school supplies for students from families with low income at District 200 Title I elementary schools. Through grants to District 200 staff, we’ve provided books for summer reading, decodable texts, and flexible seating. Additional funding will allow us to support other needs such as AP and college prep testing. 

Donate Today to help connect District 200 students and families with supportive resources to meet needs like these.