Chicago Defender Charities, United Airlines build back to school backpacks for Bud Billiken giveaway

Karen Jordan Image
Friday, August 11, 2023
Chicago Defender Charities, United Airlines build back to school backpacks
Chicago Defender Charities and United Airlines teamed up to stuff more than 600 backpacks with back to school supplies to be given to children at this weekend's Bud Billiken Parade

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago Defender Charities and United Airlines teamed up to stuff more than 600 backpacks with back to school supplies to be given to children at this weekend's Bud Billiken Parade.

The Golden Knights Drill Team gave a special performance before joining in the effort to assemble hundreds of back to school book bags.

Shaunessye Curry, alumnae president of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, spoke with ABC7 about the back to school backpack giveaway at the Bud Billiken parade this weekend.

"We can't assume that everyone has what they need for the school year, so that's where we stand in the gap to be a resource to make sure that we are providing those things," said Antawn Anderson of Chicago Defender Charities.

"Colored pencils, we have glue, pencils, folders, notebooks. Anything that a student needs, we have it going in the backpack," said Jermell Still of United Airlines.

The annual Bud Billiken parade signals school is around the corner, and for the past few years United Airlines and Chicago Defender Charities have put the bags together as a way to give back to the community.

"They have all the supplies they need, they have the support they need from us. And also, it's a way for us to show up and give our pride to the city where we're headquartered," Still said.

ABC7 is a proud sponsor of the Bud Billiken Parade. If you can't make it out Saturday, you can watch our two hour special broadcast of the parade live, starting at 10 a.m. on ABC7. You can also watch it on ABC7Chicago.com or wherever you stream.