Tampa Bay back-to-school supply drives, giveaways

With an estimated 200,000 economically disadvantaged students attending Hillsborough and Pinellas public schools, summer break is now an important part of the school year. It’s the season of school supply drives and back-to-school bash giveaways that provide students from struggling families the tools to succeed in school. With the 2026-27 school year less than two weeks away, here are some remaining opportunities to donate or find needed school supplies.

Tampa Bay School Supply Drive

The joint, two-county Tampa Bay School Supply Drive has three upcoming donation drop-off events. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, July 31, Hillsborough Education Foundation, 2306 N. Howard Ave. in Tampa, and Pinellas Education Foundation, 12090 Starkey Rd. in Largo, are accepting donations at their offices. From 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 1, the Tampa Bay Rowdies host a donation drop-off event before their match at Al Lang Stadium.

“There’s no shortage of families and students in need, and every item helps remove a barrier to learning,” Hillsborough Education Foundation President & CEO Anna Corman says. “With the cost of living, families are having to stretch every dollar. By doing the supply drive, we hope we remove some of that burden. We know that teachers will often dip into their own pockets to purchase items for their students. We don’t think that’s right either. Teachers aren’t making enough. So this is a way we can support the teachers as well.”

Old-school school supplies are the biggest needs: paper, folders, pencils, pens, colored pencils, crayons, erasers, notebooks, and backpacks. Hillsborough Education Foundation uses its share of the donated supplies to stock its Teaching Tools Resource Center, a free store that Hillsborough public school teachers may shop up to four times a year to get supplies for their students and classrooms. 

Pinellas Education Foundation CEO Kim Jowell says their supplies go to the district schools with the most need. Before the start of last school year, the foundation delivered $60,000 of supplies to 20 high-need schools. 

“If the kids have those resources in hand on the first day of class, they’re engaged in their learning, and they have what they need to get started on the right foot,” Jowell says.

Still, she says the need exceeds the available supplies.

“Even with the amount of support we get, we still have to make choices about which schools get materials and which don’t,” Jowell says. “We haven’t in the past been able to cover all the schools that have need. We have to take what we get from the drive and make decisions based on where the greatest needs are. It would be wonderful to have additional support so those kinds of decisions don’t have to be made.”

The Hillsborough and Pinellas education foundations collaborated to combine separate donation drives into the Tampa Bay School Supply Drive in 2002. They share a media market and several of the same community partners, so it made sense to work in tandem, Corman and Jowell say.

For those who want to donate but can’t make it to a drop-off event, the Tampa Bay School Supply Drive website lets you buy supplies off Amazon and have them delivered to either education foundation’s offices. Through the website, you can also donate money to the supply drive to buy school supplies off Amazon.

For more information, go to Tampa Bay School Supply Drive

Bullard Family Foundation Back-to-School Bash

The Bullard Family Foundation’s ninth annual Back-to-School Bash starts at 9:01 a.m. on Saturday, August 8th at Raymond James Stadium.

At the event, 30,000 free backpacks filled with notebooks, folders, pencils, crayons, glue sticks, and other supplies will be distributed to local students.  Other no-cost services available for families include medical and vision screenings, complimentary haircuts, and dental care, including cleanings, X-rays, and extractions. Registration is required for medical, dental, and vision services and encouraged for the backpack distribution.

For more information and registration, go to Bullard Family Foundation

University Area resource fair

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 1 at the Victor Crist Community Center Complex, there’s a free back-to-school resource fair for community children in Tampa’s University Area neighborhood.

The University Area Community Development Corporation (CDC), Community Alliance Hillsborough County, Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, Women Empowering Other Women (WEOW), United Way Suncoast, Black Child Development Institute (BCDI) Greater Tampa Bay, Samaritan’s Feet, and Aetna are partners in the event.

Free back-to-school items such as backpacks and supplies will be available at the event. Children must be present to receive items, on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Food will be provided, and additional community resources will be available.  

For more information, go to Resource Fair

Back 2 School Bash at Hillsborough County Fairgrounds

There’s a Back 2 School Bash at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, 215 Sydney Washer Rd. in Dover, from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, August 1st. The community outreach event is organized by the Hillsborough County Fair, Hillsborough County Public Schools, local nonprofits, churches, and businesses. Backpacks, school supplies, and essential resources will be provided to children in need.

For more information, go to Back 2 School Bash

Bounce Back to School 

The Pinellas County Urban League’s fifth annual Bounce Back to School backpack giveaway is 4 p.m. to  7 p.m. on Saturday, August 1st at Deuces Park, 2184 Ninth Ave S., in St. Petersburg. The free, family-friendly event includes a backpack giveaway, food, vendors, bounce houses, face painting, games, prizes, music, and more. 

For more information, go to Bounce Back to School

Largo Library Back-to-School Bash

The Largo Library, 120 Central Park Dr., hosts a Back-to-School Bash from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1st.

Learn about resources local community agencies have available for school-age children and back-to-school information on health and wellness, safety, childcare, recreation, and more. The event includes school supply raffles, crafts, and other treats. The Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County will distribute school supplies.

For more information, go to Back-to-School Bash

PAL back-to-school event

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Police Athletic League back-to-school event is 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, August 1 at the Lealman Exchange Community Center, 5175 45th St N, St. Petersburg.

Children will receive backpacks stocked with school supplies. The event also includes food and local vendors.

For more information, go to PAL Back-to-School