Tax-free weekend is here, and other ways to help Abilene kids get back to school
With most Abilene students starting a new school year in less than two weeks, parents are flocking to stores for back-to-school shopping, and many this year are feeling the pinch of higher prices.
To the rescue is the annual sales tax-free weekend, which begins its three-day run Friday.
A variety of school-related items, including clothing and shoes, purchased from retailers in Texas will be exempt from sales tax, saving buyers about 8% of the purchase price.
Exempt items include many types of clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks. Each item must be priced at less than $100 to qualify for the exemption.
More:Save on back-to-school shopping during upcoming sales tax holiday
Online and catalog purchases qualify as long as the seller is based in Texas. Layaway purchases also may be exempt, either by placing an item on layaway, or by making a final payment on an item already on layaway.
For information about what is tax exempt and what isn't, go to the Texas Comptroller website: comptroller.texas.gov.
Free is even better
More financial relief for parents and guardians can comes through a host of local programs providing free school supplies, clothes and other services, with additional savings available during this weekend's state sales tax holiday.
"I believe that a lot of people just don't realize they have resources out there that they're eligible to get," said Darrin Cox, liaison for the Abilene ISD McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Program, which acts as a one-stop shop for children's basic school needs.
Cox's office primarily serves students classified as homeless or in foster care, he said, assisting about 1,300 students annually, or between 5% and 10% of all students in Abilene ISD, with the need on the rise.
"We felt that last year after COVID. People losing their jobs and not getting all the hours that they needed," Cox said. "We've lost several different low-income housing places around town, people are struggling to pay the rent."
Additionally, Cox said, he's been seeing more people who don't have transportation, possibly due either to higher gas prices or because they don't own a car.
Back-to-school shopping isn't immune to rising costs either, with the backpacks filled with school supplies often provided by his office costing close to $100, up from about $75 previously.
"When you start talking about coming back to school, with new school supplies, new school clothes, new backpacks, it can add up really quick," Cox said, estimating that it can easily cost $300 or more to make sure a child has what they need for school, even with buying generic options.
That need has led to Cox's office doing more school supply and clothing drives than ever before, he said, such one this Friday asking Walmart customers to purchase and donate supplies listed on cards at the front door.
"The community has really gotten behind us," said Cox.
For those seeking assistance, his office − in partnership with 2INgage − will be conducting a school resource fair and family fun day Aug. 13 at the Abilene Convention Center.
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., representatives of more than 50 agencies that provide services to children will be present, and free backpacks and school supplies will be given out to participating families.
To request additional assistance, or for volunteering and donation opportunities, appointments with Cox's office can be made by calling 325-677-1444 Ext. 8641, and other upcoming events can be found on its Facebook page, facebook.com/homelessLiaison.
Operation Blue Jeans
Through mid-September, children entering elementary or middle school can receive free clothes through the annual Operation Blue Jeans back-to-school drive at the Christian Service Center, 3185 N. 10th St.
Appointments are available 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, as well as Saturday and Sept. 10.
Despite higher demand anticipated this year due to rising inflation, executive director Jim Clark gave assurances that there will still be enough to go around.
"We're ordering plenty to help the families," Clark said.
All students will receive five pairs of socks, five pairs of underwear and a new pair of shoes. Additionally, elementary school students will receive two pairs of jeans, while middle school students will receive two pairs of khaki pants and two polo shirts. Children's Bibles also will be available.
Additionally, backpacks will be available courtesy of local Kiwanians.
Parents are asked to donate one can of fruit for each child receiving clothes.
Appointments are required and can be made by calling 325-673-7531. Masks are encouraged. For information, go to cscabilene.org.
School supply drives
As a part of this month's ArtWalk presented by the Center for Contemporary Arts, a "Fill the Bus" school supply drive will be open from 5:30-8 p.m. Aug. 11 at Minter Park. ArtWalk's theme will be "Back to School Bash," with other events including music, art demonstrations and vendors.
Through Aug. 15, donations of new tennis shoes to benefit Abilene-area homeless students will be accepted at several locations: Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, 701 S. Pioneer Drive; First Baptist Church, 1333 N. Third St.; Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1741 Sayles Blvd; DFPS, 3610 Vine St.; Foot Locker in the Mall of Abilene, 4310 Buffalo Gap Road; and Janice Howell with the 7th Medical Group, 697 Louisiana Road at Dyess AFB.
Through Aug. 31, Perkins Insurance is accepting donations for a backpack and school supply drive to benefit Abilene ISD. For information, call 325-673-9300 or go to facebook.com/perkinsinsurance.
Back-to-school events
The Just Between Friends family needs sale will be open to the public from 5-9 p.m. Aug. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. Sunday. Ticketed presale events will be available Thursday through Saturday. For tickets or information, go to abilene.jbfsale.com.
A back-to-school bash will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Express ER, 4157 Buffalo Gap Road. Vendors, snow cones, a bounce house and games will be available. Admission is free.
Free backpacks will be available for children in pre-K through high school from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Drug Emporium, 2550 Barrow St. Free hot dogs and snow cones will be served.
A back-to-school giveaway will be open for all children from 2-5 p.m. Aug. 14 at Tequilas Night Club, 133 Eplens Court. Free school supplies and hair cuts will be provided, and hot dogs will be served. For information, call 325-721-1208.
Free meals
The Abilene/Big Country Hunger Coalition is coordinating free meal services at the following locations around Abilene:
Bethel United Methodist Church, 1102 N. Willis St.; 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays
Breakfast on Beech Street (B.O.B.S.), 1423 N. Third St.; 6:30-7:15 a.m. weekdays
Church on the Rock, 1228 Grape St.; 6 p.m. Wednesdays
City Lights Ministries, 336 Hickory St.; 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Freedom Fellowship, 941 Chestnut St.; 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays
Grace Fellowship, 910 Cypress St.; 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays
Grace United Methodist Church, 1434 Grape St.; 6-8 p.m. first Wednesday of the month
Love & Care Ministries, 233 Fannin St.; 7-8:30 a.m. weekdays; 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays
Salvation Army, 1726 Butternut St.; 6 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; 5:30 p.m. weekdays
Nathaniel Ellsworth is a general assignments reporter for the Abilene Reporter-News. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Help available for Abilene kids' back-to-school needs
