Brevard: Donate or Find Backpacks and More for Back-to-School
The much-anticipated beginning of the new school year is drawing near in Brevard County, Florida, with the first day back in class scheduled for August 10th. However, not every student in the county is equipped with the necessary supplies to kickstart the academic year of 2023-2024. To address this pressing issue, numerous groups and organizations have come together to collaborate with community members in collecting back-to-school supplies for distribution to children in need before the commencement of the school year.
A wide range of essential items has been identified as urgently needed by students. These include backpacks without wheels, #2 pencils, colored pencils, mechanical pencils, erasers, red, blue or black pens, highlighters, wide and college ruled loose-leaf notebook paper, scissors, glue sticks, white school glue, pocket folders, composition books, 24-count crayons, basic four-function calculators, washable markers, wide and college ruled spiral notebooks, three-ring binders, rulers, pencil boxes or pouches, ballpoint pens, pencil sharpeners, thesauruses, pocket dictionaries, student planners, notebook dividers, Lysol wipes, and tissues.
Several events and initiatives have been organized throughout the county to facilitate the collection and distribution of these much-needed supplies. On Thursday, July 20th, the Brevard Schools Foundation will host a supply drive at the Avenues in Viera from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., accompanied by live music from Tru Phonic and complimentary snacks. Additionally, Friends of Children of Brevard is collecting backpacks and school supplies throughout July, with drop-off points at Sports Clips in Viera and Hammock Landing in West Melbourne. Cash donations are also accepted, with checks payable to Brevard Schools Foundation.
Launch Credit Union is another organization accepting school supplies throughout July. These donations will be forwarded to the Brevard Schools Foundation. Drop-off points can be found at all branch locations in Brevard. Meanwhile, the Space Coast Women’s Club has launched its own back-to-school drive, also running throughout July, in support of three local nonprofits: Friends of Children of Brevard, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, and the Sharing Center of Central Brevard. In addition to the typical school supplies, the Space Coast Women’s Club is requesting new sneakers in girls’ and boys’ sizes 1-6. Various club members are accepting donations across the community, with drop-off locations accessible through an email inquiry to [email protected].
It is worth noting that Brevard Family Partnership is steadfastly collecting backpacks and back-to-school supplies for a slightly shorter duration, ending on July 26th. These items can be dropped off at their administrative office in Melbourne, with the option to purchase items directly through their Amazon Wishlist. Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Palm Bay has also initiated a collection drive for Turner Elementary School students, which concludes on July 24th. This particular drive focuses exclusively on school supplies, excluding backpacks. Donations can be dropped off at the church located at 300 Malabar Road.
Another donation campaign, organized by Lather and Steel Barber Shop and Beard Parlour in West Melbourne, is underway until July 29th. They are collecting school supplies for the American Legion, which will then distribute the supplies to children of local veterans. To ensure smooth drop-off, it is advisable to contact 772-359-8057 in advance. Moving forward, Acceptance Insurance of Merritt Island is actively collecting donations until July, which will be channeled to the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida. Those interested can bring their back-to-school donations to the Acceptance Insurance location at 235 Crockett Blvd.
The city of Cocoa is also participating in the collective effort to procure supplies for local students. Various locations across the city, including Cocoa City Hall, Cocoa Police Department, and Cocoa fire stations, are functioning as official drop-off points for donated supplies. Additionally, a collection event will be held at the Walmart on Clearlake Road on July 29th. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and focus primarily on receiving donations.
Numerous backpack and school supply giveaways have been planned across Brevard County. On Saturday, July 22nd, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Play Melbourne Parks & Recreation will sponsor an event at 2547 Grant St. in Melbourne. Free backpacks and school supplies will be distributed to children in elementary school through high school on a first-come, first-served basis. Children must be present to receive one backpack each. For further information, please call 321-608-7460.
Another notable giveaway opportunity will take place on Saturday, July 29th, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Eddie Lee Taylor, Sr. Community Complex in Melbourne. The day-long event will feature a cancer awareness walk, a health fair, educational workshops, and a kids’ zone, where back-to-school supplies will be distributed. Furthermore, on the same day, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Supply Zone at the Clearlake Education Center will provide backpacks, school supplies, dental kits, eye screenings, diabetes tests, hygiene products, and more to the first 2,000 students from under-resourced communities. No registration is required for attendance.
On Saturday, July 21st, from 10 a.m. until supplies are exhausted, Dot’s Angels will host a backpack and school supply giveaway at the Twisted Birch in Rockledge. It is crucial for students to be present at the event to receive a backpack. Meanwhile, on Saturday, July 29th, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Young Black Entrepreneur organization will hold a back-to-school event at RFM Christian Academy in Cocoa. Aside from receiving school supplies, attendees can enjoy various activities such as bounce houses, live music, food trucks, giveaways, and face painting.
Mayor Gary Gray and Unity within a Community will partner to host a slip ‘n’ slide back-to-school bash for kids on Saturday, July 29th, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Isaac Campbell Park in Titusville. The event has the potential to make children’s dreams come true with 2,000 backpacks containing supplies up for grabs. Five “golden tickets” hidden inside the backpacks will give the lucky finders a special reward. In addition to this, free food, live music, water bounce houses, water slides, vendors, giveaways, and much more await the attendees.
As the beginning of the school year draws closer, various organizations are also stepping up to provide valuable services. On Friday, August 4th, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Natural Shades of Beauty Salon in Palm Bay will be offering haircuts and school supplies. The salon has partnered with Right on Junk Removal to enhance the experience with refreshments and a bounce house for kids. Concurrently, on the same day from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the city of Cocoa will distribute backpacks and back-to-school supplies at Provost Park, situated at 400 South Varr Avenue.
Moving into the final stretch before the school year, several giveaway events have also been planned for Saturday, August 5th. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., the Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Palm Bay will host a drive-up backpack and school supplies giveaway at its location. Simultaneously, Family of Faith Christian Church in Melbourne will be holding a back-to-school supply giveaway that includes free haircut certificates while supplies last. For those residing in the Titusville area, a “Back to School BBQ and Backpack Giveaway” event will be hosted at Sand Point Park’s main pavilion from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free backpacks, haircuts, food, and entertainment will be provided; however, attendance is exclusive to children, who must be present to receive a backpack.
Lastly, Merritt Square Mall will host a sensational back-to-school bash on Saturday, August 5th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event promises a range of attractions, including a reptile petting zoo, arts and crafts, a balloon twister, an obstacle course, meet and greets, face painting, video games, stage demonstrations, giveaways, and more. Entry to the event is free, although an RSVP is requested before the day itself.
Furthermore, Publix shoppers have the opportunity to contribute to the cause by donating school supplies to the Supply Zone initiative at checkout until July 23rd. In addition, Andretti Thrill Park in Melbourne has generously offered to donate $2 to the Brevard Schools Foundation from every wristband purchase made with a coupon available on their Facebook page. The coupon is valid until September 9th and can be used to purchase admission at the reduced price of $25.23 per person, as well as receive a $5 discount on an arcade game card.
For further information or inquiries regarding these events or donation opportunities, Finch Walker, FLORIDA TODAY’s education reporter, can be reached at 321-290-4744 or via email at [email protected]. Additionally, he can be followed on Twitter @_finchwalker.
