Sorry, kids (and parents), but it’s almost time to head back into the classroom.
With school set to start Monday, Aug. 11, in both Broward and Palm Beach counties, now’s the perfect time to plan for the year ahead. (That supply list isn’t going to check itself off!)
To help out, South Florida cities and organizations are offering plenty of opportunities for families to pick up free supplies. There also are ways for the community to give back through monetary donations or by purchasing essential items for students.
We’ve rounded up all of the details below, so you can get ready then head right back to summer fun before that first bell rings.
BROWARD COUNTY
The city of Oakland Park has partnered with ChildNet’s Back to School Supply Drive to collect items for South Florida children in foster care. Donations of new school supplies are needed, including pencils, pens, crayons, scissors, notebooks, paper, glue sticks, pocket folders, erasers and hand sanitizer. Drop off items through July 18 at City Hall (3650 NE 12th Ave.), Oakland Park Library (1298 NE 37th St.), Fire Station 9 (599 NE 38th St.) and Public Works (5100 NE 12th Terrace). After that, donors may bring items to ChildNet Broward (1100 W. McNab Road, Fort Lauderdale) or ChildNet Palm Beach (4100 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach), or purchase supplies from ChildNet’s Wish List on Amazon.com. Visit childnet.us.
Plantation’s Back to School BBQ Bash is bringing inflatables, games and music to the Jim Ward Community Center
(301 NW 46th Ave.) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 19. Cool off with shaved ice and other foods and refreshments. Plus, there will be giveaways. The event is open to everyone, but Plantation residents should bring an ID to receive free school supplies. Visit plantation.org.
United Way of Broward County’s MISSION UNITED has launched the Backpack Broward Drive through July 23 to help local military and veteran families by donating school supplies for children. Participate by making a $75 donation that pays for a backpack filled with essential supplies, or purchase and fill backpacks and drop them off at United Way of Broward County’s Ansin Building (1300 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale). Distribution will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. July 30 during a drive-thru event at United Way. Register in advance online and bring proof of veteran or military status. Visit unitedwaybroward.org.
The YMCA of South Florida, in partnership with The Experience Foundation, will have a free Back-to-School Community Resource Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 26 at the L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center (1409 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale). On-site services and resources will include free backpacks, school supplies, health screenings (medical, vision, immunizations) and workshops. The fair is open to everyone, but advance registration is required at ymcasouthflorida.org/souls-for-success.
Coral Springs is having its Back to School Drive through Aug. 5 to collect items such as markers, crayons, pencils, pens, composition books, scissors, index cards, three-ring binders and more. Drop them off at City Hall (9500 W. Sample Road), Center for the Arts (2855 Coral Springs Drive), or the Florida Panthers IceDen (3299 Sportsplex Drive). For full list of accepted supplies, visit coralsprings.gov.
The town of Davie, in partnership with Rick and Rita Case Boys & Girls Club, Florence A. De George Unit Boys & Girls Club and Davie Police Athletic League, is having a School Supply Drive through Aug. 8. Items needed include spiral notebooks, composition books, pens, No. 2 pencils, pencil cases, glue sticks and more. For a full list of accepted items plus drop-off locations, dates and times, visit davie-fl.gov.
The Broward Education Foundation’s School Supply Drive through Aug. 29 aims to provide students in Broward County Public Schools with supplies to help them start the new school year. The organization is asking for donations of backpacks, black composition books, crayons, pink erasers, two-pocket folders, glue sticks, hand sanitizer and more. Drop off items at the foundation’s School Supply Center (2300 W. Copans Road, Bay 5, Pompano Beach). Other ways to get involved: Request a donation bin for your workplace, adopt a school or host a virtual drive. Visit browardedfoundation.org/drive.
Grieco Automotive Group’s 2025 South Florida School Supply Drive will benefit the Broward Education Foundation. The most-needed items include pencils, pens, paper, folders, backpacks, personal care items and more. Drop them off during business hours from July 21 to Aug. 4 at Grieco Chevrolet (1300 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale), Grieco Ford (1333 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale) or Grieco Chevrolet (1640 N. State Road 7, Lauderhill). Visit Facebook.com/griecofordFTL.
BrightStar Credit Union is also participating in the Broward Education Foundation’s School Supply Drive. From Aug. 1-31, drop off supplies such as notebook paper, glue sticks, pencil pouches and composition books at any BrightStar branch. Visit browardedfoundation.org/bscu.
Brown’s Community Development Center will have the 10th annual Collier City Family Fun Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 26 at McNair Park(951 NW 27th Ave., Pompano Beach). There will be door prizes, free groceries, backpack and giveaways, haircuts, school physicals and immunizations, foot and vision screenings. Visit pompanobeachfl.gov.
The 13th annual School Rocks Backpack Giveaway by Verizon Authorized Retailer Round Room will be taking place at TCC and Wireless Zone stores throughout the country on July 27, starting at 1 p.m.To pick up one free backpack per child (must be present; while supplies last), visit a participating Wireless Zone locations. Find a store at wirelesszone.com.
A Back to School: Fuel The Future event will have supplies and backpack giveaways, interactive games, a kids’ craft station and music from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 2 at Florida Blue Center Fort Lauderdale, 1970 Sawgrass Mills Circle, Sunrise. Refreshments and snacks will be available. The event is free, and you do not need to be a Florida Blue member to participate. There’s a three backpack limit per household. Visit eventbrite.com.
The city of Deerfield Beach’s fourth annual Back-to-School Block Party & Backpack Giveaway will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 2 at the Johnny L. Tigner Center (445 SW Second St.). The child must be present to receive a backpack and supplies. There also will be free food, games and a DJ. Visit deerfield-beach.com.
Sunrise’s Back to School Splash will celebrate the end of summer from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 2 at the Sunrise Athletic Complex (11501 NW 44th St.). There will be refreshments and children’s activities along with representatives from Sunrise schools answering questions about the school year. The first 1,000 Sunrise students will receive a free book and school supplies. (Students must be accompanied by legal guardian, and a driver’s license is required as proof of Sunrise residency.) Free admission. Visit sunrisefl.gov.
The National Night Out & Back to School Bash with the Broward Sheriff’s Office aims to introduce neighbors to the deputies who patrol their streets. It will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 8 at the BSO Cooper City Police District (10580 Stirling Road), with law enforcement demonstrations and activities, school supply giveaways, DJ, inflatables and food trucks. Free. Visit coopercity.gov.
The city of Tamarac’s Back to School Special Needs & Community Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Tamarac Community Center (8601 W. Commercial Blvd.), will provide information, services and support for families of children with special needs. Free admission. Register in advance at eventbrite.com.
Dania Beach’s Back-to-School Beach Clean-up from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 7 at Dania Beach Pier (100 N. Beach Road), will offer community service hours in addition to helping the environment. There will be free backpacks for participating students, as well as refreshments and a drawing for prizes. Free. Visit daniabeachfl.gov.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
GOLDLAW’s Back to School Bash will be giving away 1,700 backpacks filled with school supplies from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 19 at the Student Life Center at Keiser University (2600 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach). Each backpack will be filled with No. 2 pencils, pens, erasers, highlighters, notebooks and more. Activities will include henna and airbrush tattoos, face painting, games and a DJ. Advance registration required at eventbrite.com.
Grieco Automotive Group’s 2025 South Florida School Supply Drive will benefit the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County‘s efforts to provide students with school materials. Needed items include backpacks, wide-ruled composition books, construction paper, crayons and more. Drop them off during business hours from July 21 to Aug. 4 at four Delray Beach dealerships: Grieco Chevrolet (2605 S. Federal Highway), Grieco Ford (2501 S. Federal Highway), Grieco Mazda (2001 S. Federal Highway) and Grieco Nissan (2200 S. Federal Highway). Visit educationfoundationpbc.org/backpacks.
The city of Greenacres is collecting items through July 22 for its Back to School Supply Drive. Needed items include pencils, pens, paper, folders, binders, backpacks, crayons and scissors. Drop them off at the Greenacres Community Center(501 Swain Blvd.), or look for boxes at select businesses. Visit Facebook.com/CityofGreenacres.
FoundCare Inc.’s Back-to-School Health Fair will offer free health services, entertainment and giveaways from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 26 at its facility (2330 S. Congress Ave., Palm Springs). Free school physicals, immunizations, vision screenings, and backpack and school supply giveaways (while they last) will be available to attendees who register in advance. Community resource providers, educational materials and health professionals will be on hand at the event. Visit foundcare.org.
A free Back-to-School Party in the Park is taking place at the Wellington Amphitheater (12100 Forest Hill Blvd.) from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 1. Presented by the Christopher Aguirre Memorial Foundation, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, the event will include bounce houses, face painting, food trucks, a prize wheel to win school items, a trackless train, vendors and more. Visit wellingtonfl.gov/PartyinthePark.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County’s 2025 Back-to-School Drive is taking place through Aug. 1, in partnership with Office Depot. Help the more than 9,000 local club members return to the classroom this fall with the essentials items by making a monetary donation, adopting a club for $3,000, or purchasing items from the Office Depot wish list. Supplies may also be brought to various locations throughout the county. For all the details, visit bgcpbc.org.
Help the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County “Stuff the Bus” by dropping off school supplies at Office Depot (2627 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 7. Items are also accepted at the Center for Public School Excellence and Innovation (1515 Barton Road, Lake Worth Beach) through Aug. 7, or purchase items from an Amazon wish list. Visit Facebook.com/educationfoundationpbc.
Bonus: Way to save
Can’t make the supply giveaways? Back-to-school shoppers have another way to get low-cost items while helping the environment.
At Resource Depot, the nonprofit creative reuse center in West Palm Beach, families have two options to pick up supplies:
- Grab a basket and fill it with gently used school supplies for $5 (or $10 for large rolling basket).
- Visit the TreasuRE section for new school supplies offered at a discount that were donated because of excess.
“As families prepare for the back-to-school season, we understand the financial pressures they face,” said Resource Depot Executive Director Jennifer O’Brien. “At Resource Depot, our mission is to provide an affordable and sustainable solution for school supplies.”
Resource Depot (2508 Florida Ave.) is open year-round from. Visit resourcedepot.org.
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