Here is our list of back-to-school give-aways and resource fairs around the state.
Note: check events for details before you go. Many require registration, a child and/or parent present, or are while supplies last.
Thursday, August 14
End of Summer Celebration: Community Resource Fair and BBQ: Vendors, health screenings, massages, free BBQ, DJ, games, fitness activities, and more. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Village at Mondawmin, 3201 Tioga Parkway, Suite W, Baltimore. For more information, go to carefirst.com/cec.
UMD School Supply Drive Volunteer Day: The University of Maryland Office of Community Engagement is partnering with the Lakeland College Park Community Center and UMD’s chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity to support a back-to-school supply giveaway for up to 200 local K-12 students in need. Volunteers are needed. 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Lakeland College Park Community Center, 5051 Pierce Avenue, College Park. For more information, email thecenter@umd.edu.
Friday, August 15
Catherine Strong Back to School Bash: Music, games, and free school supplies. Children must be present to collect school supplies. 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Catherine Street Park, 2311 Ashton Street, Baltimore. For more information, email outreach@richardsonsolutionsgroup.com.
Bon Secours Annual Back to School Event: Free backpacks and school supplies while they last, haircuts, music, food, and more. 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Bon Secours Community Resource Center, 31 South Payson Street, Baltimore. For more information, go to bonsecours.com.
Saturday, August 16
“Boys to Young Men” Back to School Rally: This back to school Rally is aimed for 10-17 year-old boys to get them excited and ready for school. Featuring games, prizes, free school supplies and a basketball game. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Curtis B. Latimore Multipurpose Center, 9107 Pine View Lane, Clinton. For more information, email info@abcocmd.org, or call 301-868-3877.
Annual Back to School Bash: Carnival games, moon bounces, cornhole, a DJ, and a community resource area. This event is open to children ages 4 to 10 and their parents. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bowie Gymnasium, 4100 Northview Drive, Bowie. Click here for more information.
Class Act Back 2 School Supply Drive: Activity tables, face painting, free haircuts and natural hair services. Music by DJ Marcusel. 11 a.m. at City of Gods, 1118 Hollins Street, Baltimore. For more information, go to cityofgodsonline.com.
Back to School Backpack Giveaway: Backpacks will be available while supplies last. Children must be present to receive a backpack, with a limit of one per child. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Glendarden Branch Library, 8724 Glenarden Parkway, Glenarden. Click here for more information.
SRAFC Back To School Bash: Books and book bag giveaways as well as games, food and more. Noon to 2 p.m. at Solid Rock Apostolic Faith Church, 523 North Schroeder Street, Baltimore. For more information, follow @SRAFCofficialpage on Facebook.
Shoe Giveaway Event: DTLR is partnering with Give a Sole, Save a Soul to give away 3,000 new and refurbished shoes. In addition to the shoe giveaways, 40 free haircuts will also be offered. Noon to 5 p.m. at Harlem Park Elementary and Middle School, 1401 West Lafayette Avenue. For more information, find @giveasolesaveasoul on Instagram.
Back to School Community Fair: School giveaways, games, food, music, and more. Noon to 5 p.m. at St. Marks Institutional Baptist Church, 655 North Bentalou Street Baltimore. For more information, find @stmarksibc on Instagram.
ESYDA Back to School Supplies Giveaway: Free backpacks and school supplies. 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Benjamin Banneker Middle school, 14800 Perrywood Dr., Burtonsville. For more information, go to esyda.org.
Sunday, August 17
Yar Beauty Academy’s Back to School Fair: Food trucks, balloon artistry, face painting, game trucks, school supplies, and more. Noon to 5 p.m. at Bowie Town Center, 15606 Emerald Way, Bowie. For more information, follow @yarbeautyacademy on Instagram.
Back-to-School Haircuts for Students: Free haircuts for boys and young men, all school ages. Registration required. 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Hope Center Church, 1700 North Caroline Street, Baltimore. For more information, go to myhopecenter.org.
S.O.S. Back 2 School Fundraiser: A back to school fundraiser and concert. Featuring free school supplies and music by Martina Lynch and Dre Thompson. (Free for kids, $7 donation for adults) 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Spike’s Place, 3527 Dolfield Avenue, Baltimore. For more information, follow @iammartinalynch on Instagram.
Community Wellness Fair and Back to School Drive: School supplies, mental health and community resources, free books, and much more. 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Shake & Bake Family Fun Center, 1601 Pennsylvania Avenue, Baltimore. For more information, follow @aaronmaybin on Instagram.
Wednesday, August 20
Double Dutch Day and Resource Fair: Free meals and snacks, clothing and hygiene supplies, trauma and legal aid services, and more. Open to Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Washington, D.C. residents. Harvenst Intercontinental Church, 16227 Batchellors Forest Road, Olney. For more information, email just.because234@yahoo.com.
Back to School Popup Shop: This free family event will have school supplies, water activities, face painting, community vendors, and more. 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Agrihood Baltimore Farmers Market, 3100 Swann Drive, Baltimore. For more information, follow @plantationparkheights_UF on Instagram, or email info.pphuf@gmail.com.
CORE Foundation’s Back to School Glow Up: Get your kid swagged out for the school year with free professional hairstyles or haircuts, school supply kits, free vision and hearing testing, and more. 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown. For more information, go to ajlegacyfoundation.org, or follow @ajlegacyfoundation on Instagram.
Diversified Housing Back to School Backpack & School Supply Giveaway: Child must be present with adult to receive bookbag and supplies. One bag per child. Two bookbags per household. 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Randallstown Community Center, 3505 Resource Drive Randallstown. For more information, go to diversifiedhousing.org.
Friday, August 22
CottonCandi KickBack 2 School Bash: Cotton candy and snow cones, free school supply giveaways, music, arcade rooms, and more. 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Peabody Heights Brewery, 401 E. 30th Street. For more information, follow @cotton_candi_machine on Instagram.
Saturday, August 23
Free Haircut Event for Kids: Hosted by the Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Incorporated. Register at bluestandardgrooming.com. When booking an appointment use code: IOTA or BRANDON. Spaces are limited. Barber: Ricardo Winchester. Conscious Heads, 219 E. 25th Street.
ESYDA Back to School Supplies Giveaway: Free backpacks and school supplies. 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Rainbow Community Development Center, 2120 Industrial Pkwy, Silver Spring. For more information, go to esyda.org.
FIA Back 2 School Supplies & Resource Giveaway: Backpacks, notebooks and more. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Furley Recreation Center, 4633 Furley Avenue, Baltimore. For more information, find “Back 2 School Supplies & Resource” on Eventbrite.
Back to School Open House: Free backpacks, school supplies, and face painting. There’s also brow waxes, campus tours, raffle prizes, and more. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cortiva Institute, 517 Progress Drive Suite A-J, Linthicum Heights. For more information, go to cortiva.edu/back-to-school-open-house.
Potomac Lifestyle Back-to-School Bash 2025: Backpack and school supply giveaway event. Free haircuts, food, and more. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Park Potomac, 12435 Park Potomac Avenue, Potomac. For more information, follow @potomaclifestyledc on Instagram.
13th Annual Back 2 School Health & Wellness Festival: Free health screenings and vaccines, food and entertainment, and school supplies. Child must be present to receive school supplies. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Second Baptist Church Southwest, 5501 Silver Hill Road, District Heights. For more information, go to gwul.org.
Back to School Backpack Giveaway: Free backpacks filled with school supplies, music, Italian Ice, and more while supplies last. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 7477 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard, Glene Burnie. For more information, follow @augustrosehealthcenter on Instagram.
Mayor Brandon Scott’s Back to School Kick-off: Backpacks full of supplies, family resources, free food, live entertainment, and much more. Registration required. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at War Memorial Plaza, 100 Holliday Street. For more information, go to bmorechildren.com.
Back to School Drive & Health Fair | Family Fun Day: Free school supplies, games, snacks, and more. 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 9033 Red Branch Road, Columbia. For more information, go to fdsf.org.
Sunday, August 24
Charity Church Back 2 School Bash: A day of food, school supplies giveaways, free braids and haircuts, and more. Registration required. 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Charity Church, 1710 Gwynn Oak Avenue, Baltimore. For more information, go to charitychurchofbaltimore.org.
Monday, August 25
A Tribe Called Run School Supply Drive: Items to be collected: pencils, pens, crayons, markers, and more. Supplies will be distributed to Baltimore City school students for the 2025-2026 school year. 6 p.m. at R. House, 301 West 29th Street, Baltimore. For more information, find @atribecalledrun on Instagram.
Wednesday, August 27
Timbercroft Community Annual Back-to-School Fair: Games, food, school supplies and more. 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Timbercroft Apartments, 67 Timber Grove Road, Owings Mills. For more information, call 443-470-9690, or email timbercroftsc@nhe-inc.com.
Saturday, August 30
N.E.S.T. Back to School Cookout: Backpacks and school supplies, food, music, and more. Noon to 4 p.m. at the District Court for Baltimore City, 1400 E. North Avenue in the rear parking lot. For more information, follow @baltimoreSAO on Instagram, go to stattorney.org, or email mail@stattorney.org.
Sunday, September 7
KRUST: New School Year, New Emotions: Kids therapy group Kids Roleplaying Uncomfortable Situations Together invites elementary school students to learn how to express their emotions around the start of a new school year. 10 a.m. at Red Emma’s, 3128 Greenmount Avenue. Registration required. For more information, go to redemmas.org/events.