From free backpacks and school supplies to food, diapers, face painting and more, Los Angeles is full of resources for families getting ready for the school year

As summer comes to a close, it’s time for students and parents alike to get ready for back-to-school time. With a long list of tasks to get done before the bell rings on the first day of school, students need backpacks, school supplies, sometimes doctor’s appointments and more. To help families prepare to head back to the classroom, now through August, there are a lot of resources across L.A. County offering free school supplies, health screenings and anything your student needs.

From community resource fairs and backpack giveaways to fun workshops and family festivals, there are events to help students of all ages to start the school year prepared and end summer with a bang.

To finish off July, today, there is the Back to School Resource Fair at Lennox Library from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a bike rodeo, art projects and free resources for all. This weekend, students can participate in a DIY Back-to-School Pencil Box event at Sunkist Library on Saturday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m for ages five to 12 to create their own unique pencil boxes with jewels, paint, stickers and your child’s imagination. Also Saturday, there is a first-come, first-served Backpack, K-12th School Supplies, Health Fair Giveaway at Crozier Middle School in Inglewood from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. for students to enjoy free resources, health services and other back-to-school support your family needs. 

On Sunday, Aug. 2 at the Rose Bowl Stadium from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., families can attend the Annual Dena Community Backpack Giveaway and receive free backpacks filled with school supplies and hang around for community fun.

At the seventh Annual Kobe Day Back to School Backpack Giveaway on Aug. 8 at the Barack Obama Charter School, they will also be giving away backpacks in addition to school supplies, manicures, horseback riding, basketball drills and face painting from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The next day, on Aug. 9, Pasadena City Hall will be hosting the Revive Restore Renew Back to School backpack giveaway from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., connecting families with resources, providing other giveaways and cool activities so students can actually be excited for the new school year.

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Lastly, Aug 15. Has two amazing events. The seventh annual IBTU Back 2 School event on the Venice Beach Boardwalk will have free backpacks, school supplies, diapers, food, music and community resources for families from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Last year the event served 2,997 families in Venice Beach, and the organization hopes to have an even larger impact with free diapers, health and dental screenings, youth performers, skate activation and games, raffles and giveaways. The second event is presented by the Jade Marlin Foundation as they offer free school supplies, a backpack giveaway and face painting to families who bring their student in person to Pasadena from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

So as families bid goodbye to beach days, summer camp and vacations, they can return fully equipped to anything the school year will throw at them with the many events across Los Angeles.