We partnered with Visit Philly on a Labor Day weekend giveaway

We partnered with Visit Philly on a Labor Day weekend giveaway

We partnered with Visit Philly on a Labor Day weekend giveaway

We partnered with Visit Philly on a Labor Day weekend giveaway

We partnered with Visit Philly on a Labor Day weekend giveaway

On top of Philly news

From family-friendly giveaways to orgs looking for support, your guide to helping local students prepare for learning this fall.

As back to school season approaches — alarmingly fast, as per usual — Philly kids in need of new backpacks or school supplies are in luck.

There are a number of opportunities to get bookbags packed with school supplies for free, hosted by organizations across the city and the School District of Philadelphia itself. And for people looking to contribute, there are also plenty of chances to do that.

Scroll down to find backpack drives Philly families can hit up this month, as well as a couple places folks can donate to help local students prepare to get back to learning this fall.

If you know of others, tell us at tips@billypenn.com.

Multiple locations Multiple dates/times through Aug. 20

The district is embarking upon a bus tour through Philly neighborhoods this month, where families can get information on back-to-school season and register children for pre-K through 12th grade, as well as collect free backpacks and school supplies.

There are “mega-events” in some locations and shorter pop-ups in others. Some sites offer vaccinations and physicals as well, though parents should register their kids for those in advance.

Upcoming dates and locations include:

6309 Germantown Ave. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20

The 6300 Germantown Avenue Business Alliance and the Concord School House and Upper Burying Ground of Germantown plan to distribute 250 backpacks to families with kids — first come, first served.

400 E. Indiana Ave. (Hissey Playground) 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20

Immortal Vision Studio, a recently-founded photography studio and event space, is hosting a “give-back” as part of its Community Weekend. It’s slated to include a back-to-school drive giving away backpacks, notebooks, pencils, paper, lunch boxes, and other supplies, per the Eventbrite page.

5800 Cobbs Creek Parkway (Blanche A. Nixon/Cobbs Creek Library) 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24

The Cobbs Creek branch of the Free Library will host a fair with activities, giveaways, free books and refreshments, and yes, free backpacks and school supplies. Attendees will also be able to pick up kits for job seekers, get info about Medicare, and talk to folks from community organizations.

1854 N. 22nd St. 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27

Greater Enon Missionary Baptist Church at the corner of 22nd and Berks plans to distribute bookbags packed with school supplies to families, according to the church’s Facebook page, and they’ll be taking donations until a week before the event.

6401 Elmwood Ave. (Connell Park) 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Aug. 27

Local mutual aid group Gentle Gratitude is hosting an event where they’ll distribute free school supplies, fresh produce, and barbecue to students getting ready for the new school year.

If you’re interested in donating to the drive: You can buy something from the group’s Target registry or contact one of the group’s founders by Instagram DM or phone. Mariposa Food Co-Op (4824 Baltimore Ave.) is accepting donation drop-offs until Aug. 22, and Lather Hair Studio (2736 W. Girard Ave.) has a drop box too.

1509 Spring Garden Ave. 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28

Philly-based fashion brand Milano Di Rouge announced a free back-to-school event at its physical location on Spring Garden Street, where the company plans to hand out 500 free backpacks filled with school supplies.

100 S. Broad St., Suite 1341 Drop off 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11 — or donate online

Center City-based nonprofit Women Against Abuse is seeking backpacks filled with newly purchased school supplies, like pens, crayons, calculators, hand sanitizer, child-sized masks, or construction paper for children from families who’ve fled violent homes. You can drop the bags off at the org’s office on Thursday afternoon, or send them something from an Amazon wishlist.

5901 Market St., Suite 410 Sign up to donate by Monday, Aug. 15

ACHIEVEability, a nonprofit that works to combat generational poverty in West Philly, is seeking donors to sponsor over 650 kids in getting new sets of supplies before the school year kicks off. Until Monday, the organization is looking for backpacks, pens, pencils, notebooks, binders, and other school supplies to distribute to the children in mid-August. Donor signup is at this form.

2703 Tasker St. (YCF Community Engagement Center) Accepting donations Monday, Aug. 1 through Tuesday Aug. 30

The Young Chances Foundation, a South Philly org that provides programming for local kids and aims to alleviate neighborhood tensions and poverty, is seeking pens, book, notebooks, SEPTA passes, backpacks, flash drives, and other school supplies. Donations can be dropped off at the organization’s Community Engagement Center in Grays Ferry, and it’s also possible to arrange a pickup by contacting YCF directly.

1500 Sansom St., Suite 300 Runs through Wednesday, Aug. 31

Local nonprofit Valley Youth House has partnered with the Philadelphia Department of Human Services to fundraise for and collect school and dorm essentials for young people in foster care who are part of the city’s Achieving Independence Center and getting ready to head off to college. The org accepts in-kind donations like Chromebooks, sheets, gift cards, or cleaning supplies, as well as monetary donations toward care packages, textbooks, or tuition assistance.

Billy Penn is one of more than 20 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on economic mobility. Read more at brokeinphilly.org or follow at @brokeinphilly.

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School District of Philadelphia, Education

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