Back-to-school season is here, and if you have kids heading back to the classroom this fall, you might want to check out the free backpack and supply giveaways happening across the county so you don’t have to break the bank getting your kids ready for the new school year.
Florida’s Back-to-School Tax-Free Month
Before you hit the stores, mark your calendar. Florida’s 2026 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday runs from Monday, July 20 through Thursday, Aug. 20, giving families a full month to shop tax-free on qualifying items.
Clothing, footwear, wallets, backpacks, handbags, and fanny packs priced at $100 or less per item are exempt. Certain school supplies priced at $50 or less per item are also exempt, including pencils, erasers, crayons, notebooks, binders, lunch boxes, folders, markers, rulers, scissors, glue, and staplers. Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles priced at $30 or less are exempt. Personal computers, laptops, tablets, e-readers, and related accessories priced at $1,500 or less are exempt when purchased for personal, non-commercial use. Smartphones and video game consoles do not qualify.
If you wait to shop during tax exemption month, you can save up to 7% on qualifying purchases. The exemption applies to online purchases as well, as long as the order is accepted and processed during the holiday window. Layaway purchases made during the holiday period also qualify. For the full list of qualifying items, visit floridarevenue.com or call the Florida Department of Revenue’s Taxpayer Services line at 850-488-6800.
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Free Backpack Giveaways and Community Events
Organizations across the county are showing up in a big way this summer. Events are happening from now through late August, spanning Lakeland, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, Davenport, Auburndale, and Bartow. Use the calendar below to find an event near you. Most giveaways require children to be present to receive supplies, and many are first-come, first-served, so plan to arrive early.
PLEASE SHARE this article with your school groups and parent groups. If you know of a back-to-school event not listed here, Please email us at [email protected] to add it to the list.
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Polk County · 2026
Back-to-School Events & Free Supplies
Free backpack giveaways, supply drives, and community bashes across the county. Always verify details with the organizer before attending.
🛒 Florida Tax-Free Shopping: July 20 – Aug. 20, 2026
Families save 7% (state + county tax) on qualifying back-to-school purchases — in store or online — for the entire month.
👕 Clothing & shoes ≤ $100✏️ School supplies ≤ $50🧩 Learning aids ≤ $30💻 Computers ≤ $1,500
July
Sat11Jul
Lakeland
Back-to-School Bash — Southwest District
Polk Sheriff’s Charities
4120 US Hwy. 98 South, Lakeland
Free backpack filled with school supplies. Children must be present to receive a backpack.
Sat11Jul
Lakeland
Back-to-School Bash + Free Sports Physicals
Lakeland Regional Health
2400 Kathleen Road, Lakeland (Kathleen Campus)
Free sports physicals alongside a back-to-school bash for families. A great stop before fall sports season begins.
Sun12Jul
Haines City
Books, Badges & Beyond: A Resource Roundup
Haines City Police Department COPS Unit
Lake Eva Park, 555 Ledwith Ave., Haines City
Connect with doctors, dental providers, tutors, after-school programs, and community organizations. Plus free family fun: bounce houses, Dunk-a-Cop, petting zoo, face painting, free jet ski rides, games, prizes, hot dogs, popcorn, and cotton candy. No admission, no tickets, no cost.
Fri–Sun17–19Jul
Lakeland
Back-to-School Bash
Harvest Church
2120 Airport Road, Lakeland
Three-day back-to-school bash open to the community. Free event with family activities. Verify specific event details with Harvest Church before attending.
Sun19Jul
Lakeland
Back-to-School Bash — Bilingual Event
Esperanza City Church
635 N. Wabash Ave., Lakeland
Free backpacks with school supplies, water slides, food, inflatables, and family fun for all ages. Offered in English and Spanish. All are welcome.
August
Sat1Aug
Winter Haven
Free Back-to-School Event
Christ Community Church + Winter Haven Police Department
1895 Overlook Drive, Winter Haven
Christ Community Church has partnered with the Winter Haven Police Department to serve the community and help students start the school year off right. Free and open to all families.
Sat1Aug
Lakeland
Back-to-School Giveaway
Northbridge University (formerly Florida Technical College)
4715 S. Florida Ave., Suite 4, Lakeland
Free school supply giveaway open to the community. Verify details directly with the campus before attending.
Sat1Aug
Mulberry
Mulberry Community Back-to-School Bash
Mulberry Community
Mulberry High School, 1304 NE 7th St., Mulberry
Community back-to-school celebration with supplies and activities. Registration is required. Visit the event organizer’s page to register before attending.
Wed5Aug
Lakeland
Stuff the Bus — Main Collection Day
Lakeland Kiwanis Club
WPCV/WONN Hall Communications, across from RP Funding Center, Lakeland
The main collection day for a 22-year countywide tradition delivering supplies to 29 elementary schools — reaching about 14,000 children with more than $50,000 in materials annually. Donation drop-off boxes are also placed throughout Lakeland and picked up the week of Aug. 1.
Sat8Aug
Auburndale
Back-2-School Bash
Auburndale Community Center
405 Bennett Street, Auburndale
Community back-to-school celebration with supplies and activities for local families. Verify details directly with the Community Center before attending.
Fri21Aug
Bartow
Friday Fest — Back-to-School Bash
Main Street Bartow
180 S. Central Ave., Downtown Bartow
Back-to-school themed evening street festival in the heart of downtown Bartow, with community activities and family fun.
Ongoing Programs
Now thru Aug 1
Bartow
Stuff the Bus Bartow — Supply Drive
Bartow Chamber + ENGAGE Young Professionals
Multiple drop-off locations — visit the Bartow Chamber for details
Benefits homeless children identified by Project Hearth. Most-needed items: backpacks, notebooks, pencils, markers, folders, crayons, Ziploc bags, Clorox wipes, and headphones.
Now thru Aug
Countywide
Back-to-School Uniform Drive
Polk Schools Tassel Project
Multiple drop-off locations — visit the Polk Schools Tassel Facebook page
Collecting school uniforms for students countywide. Needs include polos in all colors, khakis, blue and black pants, denim, youth belts, and shoes.
July Drive
Lakeland
Start Smart Education Essentials Drive
Parker Street Ministries
719 N. Massachusetts Ave., Lakeland
Provides backpacks filled with supplies matched to individual classroom needs, plus school uniforms. Donate in person or shop the Amazon wish list. Call 863-682-4544 or email [email protected].
Drop Off Now
Lakeland
School Supply Collection
One More Child
1015 Sikes Blvd., Lakeland
Accepting new backpacks and school supplies for families in their care. Drop off at the Lakeland campus Monday through Friday during business hours.
Year Round
Bartow
Suncoast Credit Union Free Teacher Market
Polk Education Foundation
Bartow Middle School, Bartow
Public and charter school teachers shop free — up to four times per year. Open two to three times per month during the school year. Community donations welcome year-round. Call 863-519-0519 ext. 209 before dropping off supplies.
Editor’s note: The list was corrected to add events not previously listed and to correct errors on dates. Sources: Florida Department of Revenue Tax Information Publication 26A01-11, July 1, 2026; Lakeland Mom (lakelandmom.com), July 2026; Polk County Sheriff’s Office (polksheriff.org); Visit Central Florida (visitcentralflorida.org); Florida Blue/Eventbrite, 2026; Polk Education Foundation (polkeducationfoundation.org); Parker Street Ministries (psmlakeland.org); Central Florida Lifestyle Magazine (centralfloridalifestyle.com), July 2026
