Manatee County parents: What you need to know for back to school. And how to get free stuff
Students in Manatee County will be heading back to school soon, so it is a great time to start preparing your child for their first day. Local students will return to class on Wednesday, Aug. 10.
Several area churches, non-profits and healthcare organizations look forward to helping parents and students check off their back-to-school to-do list by providing health screening, physicals, vaccinations, free backpacks and supplies.
Starting Monday and running through Aug. 17, parents can take their children to Manatee County Health Department at 410 Sixth Avenue East in Bradenton for vaccinations and physicals. The clinics will operate 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
A physical costs $45 and required immunizations for children 18 years old and younger are free.
Kindergarteners, seventh-graders and new and transferring students must provide the proof of immunization form DH 680 to enroll in Manatee County schools. Parents can get the forms from DOH-Manatee or through a health care provider.
Children in grades K-12 entering, attending or transferring to Florida schools must have the following shots, according to the Florida Department of Health:
- four or five doses of DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis/whooping cough)
- four or five doses of IPV (inactivated polio virus)
- two doses of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
- three doses of hepatitis B
- one tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) and
- two doses of varicella (varicella vaccine is not required if there is a history of varicella disease documented by the health care provider)
All children entering the seventh grade in Florida must have:
one tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap)
In addition to making sure your child is physically ready for school, here’s a list of dates and locations where parents can take their children to get free backpacks and school supplies before class starts.
Christ Episcopal Church Backpack Giveaway Event
When: 11 a.m.-1p.m. Saturday, July 23
Where: 4030 Manatee Avenue, West Bradenton
Details: Backpack giveaway and free grilled hot dogs with chips and water.
AM and FM Enterprise, Inc and Money Man Pawn - Operation Backpack
When: 10 a.m.-until gone. Saturday, July 23
Where: 1608 53rd Ave E, Bradenton
Details: Backpack giveaway with supplies, free hot dogs, snacks and a raffle for two $100 gift cards.
Bradenton Marauders - Back to School Night: Backpack giveaway
When: 5 p.m. Saturday, July 30
Where: LECOM Park - 1611 9th St W, Bradenton
Details: The first 500 kids 12 and under will receive a Marauders backpack. There will also be post-game fireworks.
Rogers Community United Methodist Church - Family Fun & Wellness Fair
When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, July 30
Where: 1100 15th St E, Bradenton
Details: Free event for the entire family, there will be music by a DJ, bounce house, Mr. Chip Magic Man, storytelling, wellness screenings and information, free books and school supplies giveaway, free bags of food to take home and snack foods to eat while enjoying activities.
Verizon retail store - School Rocks Backpack Giveaway
When: 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, July 31
Where: 7339 52nd Place East, Bradenton
Details: Store employees will be handing out backpacks full of school supplies, while supplies last. In addition to the giveaway, kids in grades K-12 can enter a sweepstakes to win a $10,000 college scholarship. Five winners of the scholarship will be randomly selected.
League of Women Voters of Manatee County - Back to School Block Party
When: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6
Where: 4955 15th Street East, Bradenton
Details: 1,000 backpacks stuffed with school supplies will be given away, Meals on Wheels Plus food bags and free resources from local organizations.
Florida Penguin’s Sarasota Back-to-School Bash presented by State College of Florida
When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6
Where: The Mall at University Town Center - 140 University Town Center Dr, Sarasota. (Inside, Bottom Level)
Details: State College of Florida will be handing out 400 backpacks to local students. There will also an interactive scavenger hunt, sports mascots, performers, and a large business expo with dozens of businesses offering services for after-school programs, clubs, tutoring and healthcare.
This story was originally published July 22, 2022 at 12:58 PM.
