It may seem like summer has just begun, but in reality, we’re less than two weeks away from the start of the new school year, which is Monday, Aug. 12, in Broward and Palm Beach counties.
That means it’s time to switch back into that routine and start getting ready, stocking up on necessities such as backpacks and notebooks, buying new clothes and shoes, and getting fresh haircuts for the first day — all things that have only gotten more expensive these days.
So cities, nonprofit groups and businesses in both counties have joined forces to help families take the necessary steps with supply giveaways (while sprinkling some fun activities for the whole family into the mix).
For those looking to give back to students in need, there are also several opportunities to contribute to donation drives.
Below, find details on events providing free school supplies and drop-off spots for items being collected in the community.
BROWARD COUNTY
Back-to-School Beach Clean-up and Backpack Giveaway
When: 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1
Where: Dania Beach Pier, 100 N. Beach Road
Details: The city’s annual event calls on volunteers from schools, neighborhoods, nonprofit organizations and businesses to clean up the beach and pier areas. Each participating student will receive a free backpack (limit one per student). There will be contests, drawings for prizes, refreshments, face painting and music. Volunteers will receive community service hours. Free parking will be available.
Information: daniabeachfl.gov
Back To School Splash
When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3
Where: Sunrise Athletic Complex, 11501 NW 44th St.
Details: Hosted by the city, Sunrise residents (proof required) can get free school supplies plus an age-appropriate book for each K-12 student. Attendees will enjoy free refreshments, activities and information about Sunrise schools.
Information: sunrisefl.gov/splash
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Back to School Health Fair
When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3
Where: Memorial Primary Care Center, 4105 Pembroke Road, Hollywood
Details: Memorial Primary Care and Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital will provide school immunizations, vision and hearing screenings, and Broward County Schools Physical Examinations will also be offered to the first 100 children. Remaining children will be seen as time permits until 2 p.m. A copy of the child’s current immunization record is required for immunization. Parents/guardians must bring a valid photo ID. If possible, also bring identification for your child such as a birth certificate, passport or school ID. If you won’t be with your children during the health fair, parents/legal guardians must complete the Kinship Letter to Treat form. Immunizations and physicals are provided for Medicaid patients and children without health insurance ages 4 to 7.
Information: 𝗥𝗦𝗩𝗣 by calling 954-276-5552 (English) or 954-276-5542 (Spanish)
Broward Health’s Back-to-School Jamboree
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3
Where: Pompano Pediatric Primary & Prenatal Care Center, 601 W. Atlantic Blvd.; Cora E. Braynon Family Health Center, 200 NW Seventh Ave., Fort Lauderdale
Details: Through the Mobilize to Immunize program, kids can get free immunizations. School supplies will be given to kids while supplies last. Children must be registered in advance for immunizations by calling call 954-302-3935, or emailing m1sanchez@browardhealth.org.
Information: browardhealthpoint.org
Community Back to School Family Fun Day
When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10
Where: Apollo Park, 1580 NW Third Ave., Pompano Beach
Details: Coordinated by Broward Sheriff’s Office and community groups, backpacks will be given to elementary, middle and high school students. The event will also have free vaccinations, games, prizes and food.
Information: sheriff.org
Back to School Backpack/Supply Giveaway
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11
Where: Centennial Park, 450 NE 10th St., Pompano Beach
Details: A total of 1,200 backpacks with supplies will be given away on a first come, first-served basis. The Pompano Beach Firefighters Benevolent is in need of donations for the event, including backpacks, shoes, school uniforms, school supplies, No. 2 pencils, pencil erasers, pencil sharpener with cover, colored pencils, 24-count crayons, dry-erase markers, 4-ounce Elmer’s glue, glue sticks, child safety scissors, wooden rulers, composition notebooks, loose-leaf paper, white copy paper, two-pocket folders (red/blue/yellow/green) and duotang folders (red/blue/yellow/green).
Donation bins are at City Hall, Pompano Beach Credit Union, Big Dog Tackle and Performance Nissan (1345 S. Federal Highway).
Information: pompanobeachfl.gov
Broward Education Foundation’s Back to School Supply Drive
When: Through Friday, Aug. 23
Where: Broward Education Foundation School Supply Center, 2300 W. Copans Road, Bay 5, Pompano Beach
Details: In addition to dropping off items at the center, there are several other ways to participate in the supply drive that benefits students and teachers in Broward County Public Schools:
- Place donation boxes at your workplace and then either drop off the collection at the Broward Education Foundation School Supply Center or arrange for pickup
- Adopt a school to provide students with backpacks filled with supplies
- Host a virtual drive within an organization to collect monetary donations through browardedfoundation.org/drive.
Supplies needed include backpacks, black compositions books, crayons, pink rectangular erasers, two-pocket folders, glue sticks, individual hand sanitizers, highlighters, single-hole punchers, index cards, markers, notebook paper, pencil pouches, pencil sharpeners, No, 2 pencils, pens (black and blue ink), rulers, children’s scissors and wide-ruled spiral notebooks.
Information: browardedfoundation.org/drive
The Salvation Army of Broward County Back to School Drive
When: Through August
Where: bit.ly/TSABroward
Details: Browse from a curated selection of school supplies on Amazon such as backpacks and notebooks to pens, pencils and calculators to meet the needs of students from elementary through high school. Purchase the items and choose to ship the items directly to The Salvation Army of Broward County.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Boynton Beach Police School Supply Drive
When: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, through Aug. 1
Where: Boynton Beach Police Department lobby, 2100 High Ridge Road
Details: Donate school supplies to help students in need. Find the registries at target.com and amazon.com.
Information: Facebook.com/boyntonbeachpolice
Back to School Backpack Days
When: Through Thursday, Aug. 1
Where: Unity of Delray Beach Church office, 101 NW 22nd St.
Details: Bring items to Sunday church services and place them in the bookstore lobby at the church’s south entrance or come to the office from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays (closed noon to 1 p.m. daily). Supplies needed include tissues, colored pencils, pencils, glue sticks, rulers, three-ring binders, pencil cases, spiral notebooks, lined paper and more. Monetary donations also will be accepted.
Information: unityofdelraybeach.org
Dress for Success Palm Beaches Back to School Teacher Appreciation
When:
- Palm Springs: noon-4 p.m. July 24-27 and Aug. 1-3
- Belle Glade: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. July 24-26 and Aug. 1-2
Where: Palm Springs headquarters, 2459 S. Congress Ave., Suite 204, and Belle Glade branch, 1089 S. Main St.
Details: For the fourth year, the nonprofit Dress for Success Palm Beaches is giving female teachers a free back-to-school clothes shopping experience to get them ready for the new school year. Teachers can make a reservation for a “pampering” appointment with a personal stylist. Participants also receive school supplies and other items.
Information: Make an appointment by calling 561-249-3898; dressforsuccesspb.org
Back-to-School “Party in the Park”
When: 5-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2
Where: Wellington Amphitheater, 12100 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington
Details: Sponsored by the Christopher Aguirre Memorial Foundation, and hosted in partnership with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, the free event has a lineup of activities including a prize wheel to win free school items (tote bags, badge holders, phone holders, pencil holders), a trackless train, food trucks, face painting, costumed characters and bounce houses.
Information: wellingtonfl.gov
Splash Back to School Party
When: 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3
Where: John H. Denson Pool, 225 NW 12th Ave., Boynton Beach
Details: Come out to the pool for games, music, food and the opportunity learn about water safety. Regular pool admission fees require.
Information: boynton-beach.org
Back-to-School Bash
When: Noon-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3
Where: Riviera Beach Marina Event Center, 190 E. 13th St.
Details: Hosted by Riviera Beach Councilman Douglas Lawson and the Sincere2000 Foundation, the free event will give students bookbags and supplies, haircuts and manicures, as well as mental health awareness and suicide prevention materials. There will also be a splash pad, bounce houses, music and free food.
Information: Registration required at sincere2000.org.
Back 2 School Bash
When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3
Where: Village of Palm Springs courtyard, 226 Cypress Lane
Details: Children must be present to receive free school supplies. Food vendors and face painters also will be on-site.
Information: Facebook.com/villageofpalmsprings
The Gardens University
When: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3
Where: The Gardens Mall, 3101 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens
Details: Soon-to-be and current college students will receive four $10 vouchers to shop at stores. Other activities include a tailgate party, photo opportunities, games and root beer kegs. Participating retailers include Abercrombie & Fitch, Lilly Pulitzer, Lululemon, Lush and South Moon Under, among others. Some brands will have merchandise displays and pop-up tables throughout the mall’s common areas.
Information: Students must register online in advance at thegardensmall.com/blog/the-gardens-university-back-to-school-event-2. They should bring the confirmation ticket and a college ID or an acceptance letter to the mall. Students will pick up their vouchers at the Information Desk between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Students must be present to receive their vouchers and must provide the email address used at registration. The event is limited to the first 2,000 registrants.
Back-to-School Supply Drive
When: Through August
Where: St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, 3300A S. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach
Details: Donate to support the parish’s teachers working at Forest Park Elementary, Galaxy Elementary and Lantana Middle. Items needed include binders, backpacks, composition books, crayons, pens, pencils, glue sticks, erasers, rulers, index cards, rubber bands, loose leaf paper, markers, pocket folders, sharpeners and scissors, and uniform clothing such as dresses, skirts, pants, shorts and polo shirts. Drop off in the Narthex or in the Parish Hall.
Information: stjoesweb.org
Back to School Supply Drive
Where: The Mall at Wellington Green, 10300 Forest Hill Blvd., #2000
When: Through Sunday, Aug. 4
Details: Stop by the Giving Tree on the lower level in Grand Court and select a tag. Shop for the supplies listed on the tag and return them to the Security Office on the upper level down the hallway by JCPenney on or before Monday, Aug. 5. The supplies will go to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County.
Information: shopwellingtongreen.com
