Back-to-school season in Indy
Where to get help with school supplies and other important info to know as students head back to the classroom.
Free school supplies
Past events
🗓️ 8:30 a.m. to noon July 11
📍 Marion County Public Health Department, 3838 N. Rural St.
🎒 Find free school supplies at this Community Resource Day
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 11
🎒 Pike High School, 6801 Zionsville Road
🔗 Get free backpacks at northwest Indy back-to-school fest
🗓️ Noon to 2 p.m. July 19
📍 Lawrence Community Park, 5301 N. Franklin Road
🎒 Get a free backpack at Lawrence’s Back to School Celebration
🗓️ 1-5 p.m. July 19
📍 Skateland, 3902 N. Glen Arm Road
🎒 Free family roller skating and school supplies
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 25
📍 Indianapolis Urban League, 777 Indiana Ave.
🎒 Backpack giveaway and block party
🗓️ 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 25
📍 Fletcher Place Community Center, 1637 Prospect St.
🎒 School supply giveaway
🗓️ 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 25
📍 New Direction Church, 5640 E. 38th St.
🎒 Block party with free supplies
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 25
📍 Children’s Village Childcare Center, 5555 Galeao Court
🎒 Free health exams, immunizations and backpacks
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 25
📍 Westminster Neighborhood Services, 2325 E. New York St.
🎒 Free backpacks and school supplies
🗓️ 2-6 p.m. July 26
📍 The Indianapolis Black Firefighters Association headquarters, 1201 E. 46th St.
🎒 Back-to-school barbecue with free haircuts, backpacks, supplies and food
🗓️ 4:30-7:30 p.m. July 28
📍 Haughville library, 2121 W. Michigan St.
🎒 Back-to-school resource fair
🗓️ 5-9 p.m. July 30
📍 Boner Fitness and Learning Center, 727 N. Oriental St.
🎒 Free backpacks, school supplies, sports physicals and immunizations
🗓️ 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 1
📍 Christian Faith Baptist Church, 3626 W. 16th St.
🎒 Community fair with free food and backpacks
🗓️ 2-4 p.m. Aug. 1
📍 1205 Indy Way
🎒 Community celebration with free school supplies and backpacks
🗓️ 5-7 p.m. Aug. 6
📍 Edna Martin Christian Center, 2259 Ralston Ave.
🎒 Back-to-school festival
🗓️ 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 8
📍 Skilled US, 2855 N. Franklin Road
🎒 Free backpacks, haircuts and car washes
Upcoming events
Center Township
Need help buying clothes for the new school year?
The Center Township Trustee is offering $250 in back-to-school clothing vouchers.
Lawrence Township
How Lawrence families can get school clothing assistance
The Lawrence Township Trustee’s Office is offering eligible families clothing vouchers
Wayne Township
Here’s where westsiders can find help buying clothes for school
The Wayne Township trustee is offering clothes and shoes vouchers through Aug. 5.
Beyond high school
Explaining how Indiana’s high school diploma will change
State education officials approved changes to how students earn a high school diploma. Here’s what students will need to do to graduate.
Students could soon get Pell Grants for workforce programs. What to know.
Students can get nearly $4,000 in grants for certain certificate programs.
How this Indy nonprofit is providing students with college essentials
College students ‘shop’ for toiletries and bedding at a kickoff each August.
Purdue students in Indianapolis can get help with basic needs
A Purdue program connects students with housing, food and clothing.
College students can get free food at these university food pantries
IU Indy, Ivy Tech and Butler are among local colleges with food pantries.
These Indy college campus facilities are open to everyone
Go for a ride at the Indy Cycloplex or grab a meal at Ivy Tech’s student restaurant.
How to help
How to help Indy kids facing housing insecurity
Here’s 4 groups working to provide resources to students and their families.
Help Indy students start the year with school supplies
It’s as easy as adding a few extra supplies to your list when you shop this summer.
Help Indy’s unhoused students start the year with school supplies
Brightlane Learning’s back-to-school drive will help with supplies and other basic needs.
Helping Indy kids prepare for school is as easy as drinking lemonade
Coburn Place’s annual Lemonade Stand helps buy school supplies for domestic violence survivors.
Here’s how to buy school supplies for Indy kids in foster care
The Villages of Indiana will give donated supplies to foster families in their network.
Support West Indianapolis students with this school supply drive
The Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center is seeking donations through an Amazon Wishlist.
More opportunities to help students
📚 Donate items to Indy college students through Care University
