Back to school: Supply giveaways and donation drives planned across Montgomery

Shannon Heupel, Montgomery Advertiser
·6 min read

It's that time of year when kids start sighing and parents secretly rejoice. Before long, local students will be heading back to classes in the River Region.

To help them along the way with supplies and a good mindset, several back-to-school events are planned in the next few weeks. If you need supplies, you can get them. If you want to donate, you can do that too. There's even some stuff to prepare young ones for school life.

Back to School Supply Drive

  • Date: Ongoing

  • Location: Family Sunshine Center, 858 S. Court St., Montgomery

  • Needed items: uniforms, masks, planners, pens, mechanical pencils or wooden pencils with a sharpener, highlighters, earbuds, notebook paper, printer paper, notebooks, two prong folders, small whiteboards, flash drives, tote bags. Monetary donations are also needed to provide therapeutic materials for them to use at home.

  • Drop off times: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m.

  • Contact: 334-206-2131

  • Learn more: familysunshine.org/2023-back-to-school-drives/

Donate school supplies and get a free Dunkin Donut

  • Date: now through Aug. 1

  • Locations: Montgomery at 8025 Vaughn Road, 790 Ann St., 2035 Eastern Blvd., 2975 Vaughn Road; Prattville 2020 Cobbs Ford Road; Wetumpka at 5267 U.S. 231

  • Info: Bins are set up in locations to accept items like notebook, pencils, pens, and binders, among other essentials. Donors can get one free classic donut while allotted treats last.

Back To School Boot Camp: K-2nd grade

  • Date: Monday, July 24 through Thursday, July 27

  • Location: Montgomery City-County Public Library Juliette Hampton Morgan Library, 245 High St., Montgomery

Monday, July 24

  • 9:30 a.m. – Campers can get an overview of the week and meet the staff. They'll warm up with morning stretches and a few songs and dances.

  • 10 a.m. – Alabama Department of Archives and History: A Community Called Alabama. The focus is on a child’s place in the community, connection to others and connection to the past. Read Aloud with “The Circles All Around Us” by Brad Montague; paper doll chain craft; and community figure dress-up activity.

Tuesday, July 25

  • 9:30 a.m. – Tour of Children’s Department

  • 10–11:30 a.m. – Shonda Wright from Alabama Extension Services: MyPlate! Nutrition Program: Reflecting on eating habits during screen time, food advertisements, identify ways to overcome screen time and other barriers to doing physical activities.

It's almost back-to-school time!
It's almost back-to-school time!

Wednesday, July 26

  • 9:30-10:00 a.m. – Fiction and Non-Fiction Books: Mrs. Lodge’s Library Shelver − Learn the difference between fiction and nonfiction books. Campers will take random books and place them in order by using the Dewey Decimal Classification System using Mrs. Lodge’s Library Shelver online game.

  • 10-10:30 a.m. – TumbleBooks and BookFlix: Explore, play along with BookFlix and watch a few videos using these fun and educational databases. BookFlix is an online literacy resource that pairs animated classic video storybooks with related nonfiction books and is supported by comprehension activities to build skills, confidence, and curiosity. TumbleBooks are animated, talking picture books, which teach kids the joy of reading in a format they’ll love.

  • 10:30-11:30 a.m. – Story time with crafts: Join Ms. Lindsay for a fun time to laugh and play. Read "Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes" by James Dean. Campers will also read "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Shell" by Lucille Colandro, then put together a craft.

Thursday, July 27

  • 9:30-9:45 AM – Quick weekly review

  • 10 a.m. – Ceremony and movie time

Quinshon Judkins Back 2 School Giveaway

Ole Miss's Quinshon Judkins is having a school supply giveaway in Montgomery on July 29.
Ole Miss's Quinshon Judkins is having a school supply giveaway in Montgomery on July 29.

  • Date: Saturday, July 29, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

  • Location: St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, 1025 Edgar D. Nixon Ave., Montgomery

  • Info: School supplies, uniforms and backpacks while supplies last, plus free food and fun activities.

  • How to help: They are looking for partners or sponsors to help support their efforts in hopes of being able to help at least 150 families in Montgomery where he grew up.

  • Learn more: quinshonjudkins4.com

Back to School Give-a-way

  • Date: Saturday, July 29, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

  • Location: 2nd Chance Auto Sales, 2045 Woodley Road, Montgomery

  • Info: Food (hamburgers, hotdogs, chips and water), fun and school supplies (color pencils, crayons, notebooks, three-ring binders, pens, erasers, pencil sharpeners, pencil pouches and more). Gas card giveaways. Live broadcast during event.

Back 2 School Bash & Family Fun Day

  • Date: Saturday, July 29, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

  • Location: Oak Park, 1010 Forest Ave., Montgomery

  • Info: CHANGE nonprofit in partnership with Montgomery Park & Recreation, Police Department and YMOAM, will be giving away over 300 bags of school supplies, food, giveaways and more. All children must be present to receive school supplies.

Big Back 2 School Uniform Giveaway

  • Date: July 30

  • Location: Parking lot of Empire — Capital Plaza Shopping Center, 2239 E South Blvd., Montgomery

  • Info: Free school uniforms (two tops and two bottoms) while supplies last. Presented by Livin Legend Lausane and the OGs.

2nd annual B2S Backpack & Supplies Giveaway

  • Date: July 30, 1-3 p.m.

  • Location: 103 N. Burbank Drive, Montgomery

  • Info: Free food, drinks, bounce house, ATV, SXS, DJ and more, plus a surprise guest.

You can help with donations of school supplies for area students in need.
You can help with donations of school supplies for area students in need.

5th annual Crystal Johnson School Supply Giveaway

  • Date: Aug. 3, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

  • Location: Eastdale Mall, Montgomery

  • Info: Free school supply giveaway courtesy of the BlueHeart Foundation. Participants include S.O.T.E., Mu Phi Sigma National Percussion Fraternity Inc., Family Guidance Center of Montgomery, Kappa Epsilon Psi Military Sorority, Kappa Lambda Chi Military Fraternity, Alonza Mitchell OES Chapter No. 636, Elecia Sands, Theta Phi Sigma Christian Sorority, Alabama Dept. Of Public Health, Iota Phi Lambda Business Sorority (Mu Chapter)

  • Contact: 334-296-8200

Back to School Prayer Gathering

  • Date: Saturday, Aug. 5, gather at 8:45 a.m., and start at 9 a.m.

  • Location: Carver Senior High School, 2001 W. Fairview Ave. Montgomery

  • Info: Faith and community leaders will lead prayer for schools. Those unable to attend in person may participate by phone at 267-807-9611 (use access code 778203).

5th annual Back to School Supply Giveaway

  • Date: Saturday, Aug. 5, 9 a.m.

  • Location: Muslim Center of Montgomery, 4340 S. Court St., Montgomery

  • Info: School supplies such as book bags and supplemental items will be available for children from elementary to high school. All items are free while supplies last. Child must be present.

Back-to-School Rally

  • Date: Saturday, Aug. 5, 10 a.m.-noon

  • Location: Dunkin' Donuts, 2975 Woodley Road, Montgomery

  • Info: Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office and Dunkin' Donuts will distribute school supplies.

Wilson YMCA Family Day Out — Back to School Bash!

  • Date: Saturday, Aug. 5, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

  • Location: Wilson YMCA, 1445 New Park Drive, Montgomery

  • Info: Everyone welcome, members and nonmembers. Open splash pad, inflatables ($15 wristbands for unlimited inflatables), kid friendly DJ, Food trucks and more. Join with no fee when you donate new school supplies for Wilson Elementary School.

Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at sheupel@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: School supply giveaways and donation drives planned across Montgomery