Where to get uniforms, backpacks, school supplies in El Paso
School supplies and backpacks are filling up shelves at discount stores. Parents are starting to look for uniforms. And hand sanitizer and Kleenex boxes are being thrown in the grocery cart.
The start of school is only weeks away. If you're on a budget, here are some ways to get school supplies for your kids.
MOB's Back to School event
The Moms on Board organization is joining the Lions International in its Back to School event, from 9 a.m. to noon July 23 at the Ascarate Park Pavilion. The first 400 families will receive a free backpack.
FirstLight Federal Credit Union will provide free school supplies, Capones Barbershop and Bronx Barber College will provide free haircuts and Immunize El Paso/Pro-Action will provide free COVID-19 vaccines.
There also will be a uniform swap. Drop off gently used uniforms at various places, including the Fred and Maria Loya Family YMCA, 2044 Trawood Drive, Bowling Family YMCA, 5509 Will Ruth Ave., and Westside Family YMCA, 7145 N. Mesa St. You will receive a voucher for the swap.
Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare Resident Physicians will provide sports physicals. There also will be a uniform swap, fun things for kids to do, food trucks and entertainment.
12th Annual Lions International Uniform Swap
The annual exchange of gently used uniforms for new ones will return from 8 a.m. to noon July 23 at Eastlake High School, 13000 Emerald Pass Ave., in Horizon City.
Parents are asked to drop off their children's clean, outgrown uniform polos and pants at any of six drop-off locations before July 23 to get a voucher for the event swap. The drop off locations are: National Self Storage, 10560 N. Loop Drive and 7620 N. Loop Drive; Triple Threat Cheerleading, 6800 Commerce Ave. (5:30 to 9 p.m.); Liberty Tax, 700 N. Zaragoza Road, Suite AB (1 to 7 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday); Extreme Core Fitness, 125 N. Kenazo Ave., Suite I; Progressive, 11930 Vista del Sol Drive, Suite A; and Farmers Insurance, 14200 Ashford St., Suite A-1.
Back to School Drive Thru
El Paso Health will have its Back to School Drive Thru event from 9 a.m. to noon July 23 at the El Paso County Coliseum.
Families are encouraged to be there early as it's first-come, first served. It will be a food pantry drive and a backpack drive. Parents are encouraged to have their children, ages 3 to 18, to receive a backpack or have proof of their school enrollment.
Abundant East, West backpack and school supply giveaway
Abundant Church will have its backpack and school supply giveaway at 9 and 10:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Sunday, July 24, on the East campus, 1000 Valley Crest Drive, and at 9 and 10:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. July 31 at the West campus, 7100 N. Desert Blvd.
The church will be giving away 1,500 new backpacks with school supplies. School-aged children must be present and pick up their backpack voucher during one of the church services.
Walmart offers $1 school supplies, wellness fairs
Walmart stores are helping families by offering more than 100 of its top school supplies for a dollar or less.
Several stores also will a free Wellness Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 23. Families can get health screenings, including cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure and BMI, COVID-19 vaccines, routine immunizations and the opportunity to talk with pharmacists about any health concerns leading into the school year. To find a participating store, visit Walmart.com/wellnesshub.
Tax-free weekend in August
El Paso area shoppers can take advantage of tax-free weekend Aug. 5-7, which is for all of Texas. It means most clothing, footwear, school supplies, swimwear and backpacks priced at $100 or less are free from sales tax.
Shoppers also can take advantage of the perk online as long as they enter their credit card payments during that weekend.
María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; and @EPTMaria on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Where to find back-to-school backpacks, supplies, uniforms in El Paso
