Get ready! The start of the new school year is just around the corner.
This back-to-school season can quickly get expensive, between new school clothes, supplies, backpacks, haircuts and everything else that goes into preparing for the new year. But it does not have to be.
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There are several community organizations and events to help offset the cost of getting kids ready for school.
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Here is a listing of events in Central Florida that are giving away free backpacks, school supplies and a variety of other services.
If you know of any other back-to-school events in the area not listed here, feel free to send us an email at web@wkmg.com. To find events in the Tampa Bay area, check out this article to learn more.
To see when each of the school districts in Central Florida go back to school, visit this ClickOrlando article.
Brevard County
Back to School BBQ & Backpack Giveaway
- When: Aug. 3, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Where: Main Pavilion at Titusville Sand Point Park.
- What: There will be free backpacks and school supplies at this event hosted by Astronaut High School for Brevard County students. There will additionally be free food and haircuts, along with snow cones, waterslides, bounce houses, yard games and a DJ.
Space Coast Back to School Bash
- When: Aug. 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Where: Melbourne Square Mall.
- What: This event, presented by Goff Orthodontics, will showcase family-friendly services, resources and programs. There will also be giveaways and fun activities for kids, like an obstacle course, temporary tattoos, a reptile petting zoo, balloon animals and more.
Flagler County
- When: Aug. 3, at 10 a.m.
- Where: Flagler Palm Coast High School’s gym.
- What: The Flagler County Education Foundation will be giving away backpacks filled with school supplies at this event. There will also be several local vendors offering information and resources about their youth-focused activities and services, along with food trucks and a bike rodeo outside.
Orange County
- When: July 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Where: Leonard and Marjorie Williams Family YMCA.
- What: There will be a giveaway of free backpacks filled with essential school supplies at this event, along with a family resources and services fair. The event will also feature a variety of food trucks, games, prizes, live entertainment and more.
- When: July 27, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Where: Florida Technical College, at the Orlando Campus.
- What: There will be a giveaway of backpacks full of school supplies at this event hosted by Florida Technical College. There will also be a raffle for electronic devices, along with carnival games, family activities and more. Students can also take a tour of the college’s campus, if interested.
Outpouring Orlando Back to School Bash
- When: Aug. 3, from 12-3 p.m.
- Where: Colonial High School Jennings Kite Stadium.
- What: There will be a backpack giveaway at this event at 1 p.m. There will be a number of food trucks at the event, along with Kona Ice. The event will also consist of variety of family activities, games, arts and crafts, face painting and more.
LIV Realty Back to School Bash!
- When: Aug. 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Where: 10783 Narcoossee Road in Orlando.
- What: This event will provide free haircuts, backpacks and school supplies for students. There will also be a number of food vendors and refreshments, along with face painting, a live DJ and more.
- When: Aug. 3, from 12-5 p.m.
- Where: Orlando, specific location TBD.
- What: This event will allow students to pick out free backpacks full of school supplies. There will also be music and food, along with a range of activities, face painting and yoga for children.
- When: Aug. 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Where: Zanders Park & Bouler Pool in Winter Garden.
- What: There will be a free backpack and school supplies giveaway at this event hosted by the city of Winter Garden. There will also be free food, live music, water activities, community vendors and more.
Faith Assembly Back to School Bash
- When: Aug. 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Where: Two locations. At Faith Assembly in Curry Ford and Michigan Street.
- What: This event will provide over 3,000 backpacks to students in need across three distribution locations. There will also be free food, haircuts, school physicals, “Back to School” photo opportunities and an Interactive Kids Zone.
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Osceola County
- When: July 27, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Where: Florida Technical College, at the Kissimmee Campus.
- What: There will be a giveaway of backpacks full of school supplies at this event hosted by Florida Technical College. There will also be a raffle for electronic devices, along with carnival games, family activities and more. Students can also take a tour of the college’s campus, if interested.
Polk County
- When: July 20, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Where: Lakeland Regional Health, at the Grasslands Campus.
- What: This event, by Lakeland Regional Health, will feature fun activities, giveaways and essential preparation for the school year. There will be free school supplies, sports physicals and bike helmets. The event will also have face painting, sweet treats and a video game truck.
Back-to-School Bash Community Event
- When: July 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Where: Lake Gibson Nazarene Church in Lakeland.
- What: There will be free school supplies, uniforms, haircuts, vaccinations and sports physicals at this event sponsored by Central Florida Health. There will also be resources provided by Polk County School Board and County Services, along with water slides and other fun activities.
- When: July 27, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Where: At two distribution locations. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Northeast District substation and the Southwest District substation.
- What: The Polk County Sheriff’s Charities is hosting several different Back to School Bashes this year across the county. Students present at these locations with their families will be able to receive free backpacks filled with school supplies.
- When: July 27, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Where: Florida Technical College, at the Lakeland Campus.
- What: There will be a giveaway of backpacks full of school supplies at this event hosted by Florida Technical College. There will also be a raffle for electronic devices, along with carnival games, family activities and more. Students can also take a tour of the college’s campus, if interested.
Back to School Bash at Harvest Church
- When: July 26-28, from 5-8 p.m.
- Where: Harvest Church in Lakeland.
- What: Over the weekend, Harvest Church will be hosted a fun community event with outdoor activities for kids, along with backpack and school supplies giveaways. Each night there will be hotdogs, drinks and sno-cones provided, as well as bounce houses, a rock wall, face painting and more.
- When: Aug. 3, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Where: Visit Central Florida Welcome Center in Davenport.
- What: Local residents and visitors can attend this community event to visit different vendors to receive free backpacks, school supplies and more. There will also be the chance for children to have their picture drawn by a caricature artist.
Seminole County
Action Church Back to School Bash
- When: Aug. 3, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Where: Two distribution locations. Action Church in Sanford and Action Church in Winter Park.
- What: There will be free school supplies and backpacks at this back-to-school event by Action Church. There will also be Seminole County Public Schools resources for parents, along with bounce houses and food for the whole family at each of the locations.
HOPE Helps Back to School Bash
- When: Aug. 3, time TBA.
- Where: First Church of Oviedo.
- What: This event will provide local children in need an opportunity to pick out a new backpack and get free school supplies, socks, underwear and toiletries. They will also receive a free eye screening, lunch for the whole family and access to local resource agencies.
- When: Aug. 10, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Where: Altamonte Mall.
- What: This expo will allow parents and teachers to connect with education, health and family-focused organizations and companies. There will be prizes, discounts and school supplies giveaways. It is additionally during Florida’s tax-free weekend and offering savings on educational items and resources.
Faith Assembly Back to School Bash
- When: Aug. 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Where: Faith Assembly in Red Bug Lake.
- What: This event will provide over 3,000 backpacks to students in need across three distribution locations. There will also be free food, haircuts, school physicals, “Back to School” photo opportunities and an Interactive Kids Zone.
Volusia County
- When: July 27, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Where: Florida Technical College, at the DeLand Campus.
- What: There will be a giveaway of backpacks full of school supplies at this event hosted by Florida Technical College. There will also be a raffle for electronic devices, along with carnival games, family activities and more. Students can also take a tour of the college’s campus, if interested.
- When: July 27, from 8-10 a.m.
- Where: Earl Brown Park Ampitheater in DeLand.
- What: There will be a giveaway of backpacks and free school supplies at this community event by the city of DeLand. There will also be numerous community health related vendors offering free services and testing.
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