MADISON, Wis. — Back to school season is almost here, and one Wisconsin organization is working to make sure kids begin the year on the right foot this year with everything they need.

What You Need To Know

  • Families lined up for 100 Black Men of Madison’s annual Back to School Celebration on Saturday

  • Families were able to pick up backpacks full of school supplies, get health screenings for their kids, pick up free books and more

  • 100 Black Men has been holding this event for nearly 30 years

  • Last year, they were able to distribute supplies to 1,200 families. They expect a similar need this year

Families lined up for 100 Black Men of Madison’s annual Back to School Celebration on Saturday.

Erika Walker and her two children were part of that line.

“I’ve been unemployed for 14 months, so our family is struggling,” Walker said.

Like many parents, Walker said she knows firsthand how expensive school supplies can get.

“I actually ended up going to a store, put everything together in a cart and it was close to $400 to $500,” she said. “And I’m like, I don’t have that type of money.”

Through a partnership between 100 Black Men, several school districts and community groups, Walker and other families were able to pick up backpacks full of school supplies, get health screenings for their kids, pick up free books and more.

“What we realize is that if students don’t have the proper supplies when they’re starting out the school year, they’re starting out at a disadvantage,” said J.R. Sims, a spokesperson for 100 Black Men. “That disadvantage is going to show up in their performance.”

100 Black Men has been holding this event for nearly 30 years. Last year, they were able to distribute supplies to 1,200 families. They expect a similar need this year.

“The natural order of things has demonstrated that families are strapped to try and supply all of these goods and services by themselves,” Sims said. “So, we just want to be here to help the community grow.”

Walker said she’s grateful for the opportunity to set her kids up for success.

“At least they won’t feel like, ‘Hey, everyone else has their backpack with their school supplies and I’m the outsider where people are going to be looking at me, or students are going to be looking at me weird because I don’t have what I need,’” she said.

She said she hopes other families in similar situations don’t feel afraid to ask for help.

“You need to look for the best, and obviously, the best thing for our children is to provide a better education and having just the basics for them is what is needed to start the year well,” Walker said.

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