Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital employees collected and delivered 274 school supply-filled backpacks to local schoolchildren. Most of the backpacks were dropped off at John R. Tibbott Elementary School in Bolingbrook, where they were distributed to students in kindergarten through fifth grade in the Valley View Public School District 365U.

The hospital also donated 20 backpacks and an extra box of supplies to Good Shepherd Church in Romeoville. In addition to the contributions from hospital employees and the community, supplies also were provided by Office Depot®, Office Max®, Bolingbrook Seventh-Day Adventist Church and the Living Water Church of Bolingbrook.

Last year, hospital officials dropped off more than 100 supply-filled school backpacks. This is the fourth year hospital employees spearheaded the community effort.

“The recent economic downturn means there’s an even greater need in our community this year,” said Kathy Mitchell, the vice president/chief nursing officer with Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital. “We’re proud that our employees reached out to our community in this special way. It demonstrates their commitment to our mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ.”