Back to School Bash offers free school supplies for students, grades K-12, that are in need (while supplies last).

For the 2024-25 school year, the Back to School Bash will be held at the John R. Grubb YMCA, located at 1611 11th Street, on Aug 18th, from 2 pm-5 pm. The Bash also provides entertainment such as a sports jamboree, local entertainment, barber and beauty shops and a community resource fair.

Provide to children who are in foster care or who have been adopted from foster care. It provides school necessities for back-to-school such as backpacks and school supplies for the children. This program also provides back-to-school supplies to children year-round who have unexpectedly entered the foster care system. Children placed in foster care outside of the event may email agency to request school supplies.

Offers free school supplies for Jones County families. Families may call the Jones County Family Resource Center to register for the free school supplies.

Clothe a Child Program offers school clothes in August.

Heart and Soles Program offers shoes for school in August.

Rides of Love Ministry offers rides to medical and mental health appointments.

Heart of Christmas Program provides Christmas needs in early December.

For Christmas 2024:

Heart of Christmas is Sat, Dec 7th, from 10 am-11 am, held at the Faith Church in Rock Valley, IA. Provides a Christmas store for children ages 3-11, and parents pay $5 per child to choose and wrap a gift. The store closes at 10:30 am, so parents must arrive before that time.

This also qualifies parents to receive a holiday meal kit, and families who had flood damage to their homes can receive a 4-foot lighted Christmas tree. Children enter the Christmas Carnival area with a variety of games and decorate Christmas cookies. There is an interactive retelling of the Christmas story.

Parents must register by Nov 22. Register online at www.loveincsiouxcounty.org or call (712) 476-5990. No registration needed for Christmas Carnival. (All children must be accompanied by an adult at the event.)

Provides school supply assistance for low income families in August. Backpacks with school supplies will be handed out to all children, whose parents have signed up for distribution this month (applications available at the main office). Must have applications in by July 31, 2024.

Back to School Giveaway distributes backpacks filled with school supplies for Head Start -12th grade students from low income households. Free supplies for the first 1,500 kids.

GIVEAWAY LOCATION: the 15 DMARC Food Pantries around Polk County will have school supplies to hand out for the bash. Backpacks will be available at the food pantries starting Fall 2024.

Provides an annual backpack and grade-specific school supplies drive for K-12 students; no preschool students.

Students must be pre-registered for the supply drive. Open to Iowa residents only.

For 2024, the registration link is available July 15th-July 19th. Applicants must be able to pick up their own backpack on Saturday, August 17th, 2024.

Registration link is on the Lakin Campus Facebook page: www.facebook.com/LakinCampus

On Saturday, Aug 17th, 2024, applicants will enter the middle entrance at the 16th Street parking lot. Parking lot will not be accessible until 9:30 am. Signs will be posted. All participants must stay in their vehicles until their time to enter, based on the first letter of their last name:

-- Parents with last name starting with A-D are served 10 am-11 am.

-- Parents with last name starting with E-M are served 11 am-12 pm.

-- Parents with last name starting with N-Z are served 12 pm-1 pm.

For assistance or questions, contact Lakin Campus.

Thrift shop with vouchers provided by most churches, government offices, and community agencies.

School supply distribution.

Santa's workshop provides Christmas presents.

School backpack and supply distribution for grades pre-K-12. Proof of school enrollment for each child is required, regardless of location.

For 2024, distribution is Friday, August 9th through Saturday, August 10th at the following locations:

-- The Salvation Army Renaissance Village Campus (3612 Cuming Street, Omaha) - August 9th-10th at 9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-3 pm, or until supplies have been exhausted. Walk-up distribution only; backpacks will be distributed in the gymnasium.

-- The Salvation Army Kroc Center (2825 Y Street, Omaha) - - August 9th-10th at 9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-3 pm, or until supplies have been exhausted. Walk-up distribution only. Enter the Kroc Center campus off of 27th Street (on the east end of the property).

-- Westroads Mall (10000 California Street, Omaha) - August 10th at 10 am-1 pm, or until supplies have been exhausted. Drive-thru distribution only. The distribution will take place in the mall's northeast parking lot, just north of JC Penney.