It is officially National Back to School Month! Since the 1960s, August has been a time when students, families, and teachers celebrate and prepare for the new school year. This season brings the excitement of shopping for supplies and finalizing lesson plans, but more importantly, it’s a time to appreciate the American education system and the hardworking teachers who educate our children.
Education is incredibly important. Even before public elementary schools were mandated in 1915 to combat child labor, education has been a cornerstone of personal and societal development. Today, public schools continue to shape the lives of many students. Orange County Public Schools will open their doors on August 12th to about 209,000 students, making it the 9th largest school district in the United States and the fourth largest in Florida.
At Team Anna, we are passionate about advocating for our schools, students, and educators. We believe education is the foundation of a thriving society. Our commitment to education doesn’t end on August 31st; we support and uplift the educational community all year long.
As we celebrate National Back to School Month, let’s take a moment to recognize the hard work and dedication of our teachers and the importance of education in our lives. If you have the means, consider donating to a school supplies drive near you. From Thursday, July 25th, to Monday, August 12th, Team Anna will be collecting items for A Gift for Teaching to help provide essential supplies for local families in need. Requested items include unopened #2 pencils, dry erase markers, notebooks, erasers, and loose leaf paper. Please mail or drop off your donations on weekdays between 9am and 5pm to our office at 1507 East Concord Street, Orlando, FL 32803. Your generosity will make a significant difference to families in our community!
If you need assistance, please check out the resources below to help get you the supplies you need.
- A Gift For Teaching is Central Florida’s primary provider of free supplies to teachers for students in need. Their store in Orlando allows OCPS teachers to shop for free school supplies, classroom essentials, and books once a month throughout the school year.
- Community Coordinated Care for Children (4C) offers the Head Start program to prepare children ages 3-5 from low-income families for academic success. Additionally, they set up Neighborhood Centers for Families, which provide family-friendly services and activities in 13 Orange County neighborhoods.
- The Early Learning Coalition of Orange County (ELCOC) provides financial assistance for child care and early education to low-income working families. Their Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) Program offers free pre-kindergarten education for all four-year-olds in Florida.
In addition to these programs, there are also tons of fun giveaways in Central Florida before school starts. Here are just a few example events:
- LIV Realty Back to School Bash: August 3rd from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM; Liv Reality is hosting a back to school bash with free haircuts, backpacks and school supplies for students.
- Back to School Bash @ Colonial High School: August 3rd from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM; Outpouring Orlando is hosting a back to school event at Colonial High School with games, food trucks, and a backpack giveaway from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
- Military Family Back-to-School Festival: August 3rd from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM; La Rosa Military Network is hosting a back to school festival at the Dover Shores Community Center where they will be distributing free backpacks and supplies on a first come, first serve basis for Active Duty, Veteran, and Military families.
- The Men’s Closet 2024 Back to School Giveaway: August 4th from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM; The Men’s Closet will be hosting a back to school giveaway where they will be giving away backpacks, school supplies, personal hygiene items, free haircuts, and more!