URBANA, Ill. (WAND) — Pens, notebooks and backpacks are all back to school essentials. The one thing not on the supply list at Wiley Elementary in Urbana? The stress of buying just the right item.
"It's actually taken a load off of my shoulders knowing that [my kids] are taken care of," said parent Kaedee Barrow.
Barrow has three children off to school this fall. Her oldest, Jalen, is going into 5th grade at Wiley.Â
"It's very busy," Barrow said. "Every grade has a different requirement or wish list of supplies they want."
That's where the Urbana Police Department comes in.
The department spent a month collecting supplies to give to Wiley families, delivering more than 15 boxes of pencils, pens and notebooks.
"[Parents] can come in here...and get a backpack, markers....anything they need to start their school year off right," said Ofc. Jared Hurley.
A donation that gives kids like Jalen the supplies and confidence they need to make the grade this year.
"[My backpack] looks good so I feel good," Jalen said.
