It’s hard to believe it, but a new school year is right around the corner. It’s time for backpacks, new clothes, textbooks and more.
We know it’s overwhelming, so we made it easy for you to know where to give back and where to get back before the summer ends and the school year begins:
First Seventh-day Adventist Church of West Palm Beach Back-2-School Festival
July 29
Students in kindergarten to eighth grade can attend this event for backpack giveaways, school physicals, haircuts, uniform exchanges, food and a bounce house.
6300 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach; 561/689-5444; Facebook.com/events/912050928998955/
“Give Back, Get Back” at PGA Commons
July 30 through Aug. 5
Donate school materials and receive 10 percent off a purchase made that day in select stores and restaurants, including The Tux Shop, Bamboo Clothiers, T is for Table, New Beginnings, Onessimo Fine Art, Studio E Gallery, Vic & Angelo’s, Prosecco Café, and Menchie’s. The drive is accepting new, unopened supplies, including glue sticks, boxed tissues, washable markers, crayons, construction paper, pencils, colored pencils, pencil sharpeners, hand sanitizer, erasers, pocket folders and composition books.
5100 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens; 561/630-8630; pgacommons.com
Hoffman’s Chocolates Backpack Drive
July 31-Aug. 10
Donate a new school backpack at a participating Hoffman’s Chocolates location (Greenacres, Boca Raton, Palm Beach Gardens, Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Plantation and Weston) and receive a free ice cream sundae. The backpacks will benefit ChildNet, a community-based care lead agency in both Broward and Palm Beach counties that works to protect abused, abandoned and neglected children. The offer is limited to one sundae per donated school backpack, and no drawstring bags, messenger bags or fanny packs will be accepted.
For more information, visit Hoffmans.com.
WPTV Back-to-School Expo
Aug. 4
The NewsChannel 5 School Expo, taking place at The Mall at Wellington Green from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is a one-day gathering of public and private schools, trade schools, universities and education-related companies and services. As an added bonus, this event takes place Florida’s tax-free school shopping weekend.
10300 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington; wptv.com/school-expo
Spirit of Giving’s 10th Annual Back to School BASH
Aug. 4
This back-to-school event brings together more than 60 local nonprofit agencies and community partners to help thousands of economically disadvantaged children prepare for the school year and for academic success. Children will select their own supplies, shoes and uniforms as well as receiving health screenings through Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s Health Carnival. To help, you can sponsor a child for $50, donate supplies or volunteer at the event.
261 NW 13th St., Boca Raton; 561/385-0144; spiritofgivingnetwork.com
Back-to-School Health Fair at FoundCare
Aug. 7
This free event will provide back-to-school physicals and immunizations for students. Every child who attends will receive a backpack filled with school supplies. The event is superhero themed, so make sure the kids are dressed in their best costume; there will be a costume contest with prizes, as well as a DJ, dancers and face painters.
2330 S. Congress Ave., West Palm Beach ;561/432-5849; foundcare.org
Back to School Bash
Aug. 10
End the summer with a fun night at Monkey Joe’s. There will be school supply giveaways and fun back to school activities.
6250 Lantana Rd., Bay 18, Lake Worth; 561/968-0009; https://www.facebook.com/events/238254456789006/
Fashion 101 at The Gardens University
Aug. 11
The Gardens University is hosting a tailgate party for college students in the Grand Court. Like any tailgate, the event will include fall fashion, games, and root beer kegs. Soon-to-be and current college students can show their college ID or an acceptance letter to receive four, $10 vouchers to spend that day in select stores at The Gardens Mall.
3101 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens; 561/775-7750; eventbrite.com/e/the-gardens-university-tickets-48160531446
Back to School Backpack Giveaway
Aug. 11
Hosted by Yohanna’s Expressions, this back-to-school bash and giveaway will feature food and drinks, kids zumba, dance group, music and raffles.
1500 SW 6th St, Delray Beach; 561/243-7194; facebook.com/events/424404718064960/
Back to School Jam
Aug. 11
Boca West Children’s Foundation, which provides grants and volunteers to 25 local non-profit children’s organizations, has provided a $30,000 grant to Wayne Barton Study Center to assist with its “Back to School Jam” serving an estimated 6,000 underserved children. Children attending the event will receive a backpack that has been filled with required school supplies and will be offered the health screenings and immunizations needed to the start school year. The event will also feature food, games and music.
