Free backpacks, school supplies available to schoolchildren Saturday in DeLand

Katie Kustura, Daytona Beach News-Journal
·1 min read
Children can pick up free school supplies Saturday morning in DeLand at the annual Mayor's Backpack Giveaway at Earl Brown Park. A child is pictured here at the event in 2021.
Children can pick up free school supplies Saturday morning in DeLand at the annual Mayor's Backpack Giveaway at Earl Brown Park. A child is pictured here at the event in 2021.

DeLand's annual Mayor's Backpack Giveaway is set for Saturday morning with previously rained-out Juneteenth festivities to follow.

Here's what you need to know:

When and where is the backpack giveaway?

The free event — a joint effort of the city, the Dr. Joyce M. Cusack Resource Center and several additional community partners — will take place from 8-10 a.m. in Earl Brown Park, 815 S. Alabama Ave., DeLand

When parents or guardians arrive with their children, they will receive a backpack voucher for each child, according to a news release from the city.

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The DeLand Police Athletic League will also be in attendance giving out a limited supply of sneakers.

Students will move between other park vendors to fill their new backpacks with school supplies including notebooks, pencils, pens and more.

Other on-site vendors

  • Gen Mobile will be giving out free smartphones and unlimited talk, text and 7GB data for those who qualify through the Affordable Connectivity Program. Bring identification and a verification letter or Gold Medicaid card to see if you qualify.

  • Hispanic Health Initiatives will provide free glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol testing. (ID and proof of Volusia County residency required).

  • Rising Against All Odds will provide free HIV testing (ID and proof of Volusia County residency required).

When is the rescheduled Juneteenth celebration?

DeLand's Juneteenth festivities, which were rained out last month, will begin at 10 a.m. inside the Sanborn Activity and Event Center, which also is located at the park.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Saturday: DeLand's annual Mayor's Backpack Giveaway, school supplies