Every Student Starts the Year Ready
The iCare Annual Back-to-School Community Give-Away is one of the most anticipated events of the year in Greater Tampa Bay. Each August, before the school year begins, we bring together hundreds of students and families for a day of giveaways, health screenings, and community connection.
Every student who attends leaves with a fully stocked backpack and school supplies — and the confidence that comes from being prepared. Every parent leaves connected to resources that can support their family throughout the school year. It is more than a giveaway — it is an investment in a community's future, one student at a time.
Prepared Students Learn Better — It Is That Simple
Research consistently shows that students who begin the school year prepared — with the right supplies and a sense of readiness — have significantly better attendance, engagement, and academic outcomes. For families under financial pressure, back-to-school supplies alone can cost hundreds of dollars per child. That is a burden that falls hardest on the families who can least afford it.
In Greater Tampa Bay, two out of three public school students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch — a clear indicator of the economic pressure their families are under. Our Back-to-School Give-Away levels the playing field before the first bell rings, sending every student through those doors on equal footing.
The Reality in Hillsborough County
66% of public school students in Hillsborough County qualify for free or reduced-price lunch — a marker of family economic hardship that directly impacts school readiness. For these families, back-to-school costs are not an inconvenience — they are a genuine barrier to their child's education. We remove that barrier every single year.
What Every Student Receives
Backpacks & School Supplies
Every student receives a fully stocked backpack with grade-appropriate school supplies — notebooks, folders, pencils, pens, and everything else needed to walk into class prepared and confident on the first day of school.
Parent Engagement & Workshops
While students receive their supplies, parents connect with information on school resources, community programs, and family support services available across Greater Tampa Bay — turning a give-away into a full community event.
Help Us Send More Students Back to School Ready
Donate Supplies
Donate new backpacks and school supplies to ensure every student receives what they need. Check our contact page for drop-off details.
Volunteer at the Event
Our annual give-away needs volunteers to sort supplies, assist families, run health screenings, and make the day run smoothly. Sign up to join us.
Sponsor a Student
A financial donation of any size helps us purchase supplies for students whose needs exceed what we receive through donations. Every dollar goes directly to a child.
Every Child Deserves to Start the Year Ready
Your support — whether you donate supplies, sponsor a student, or volunteer your time — helps us reach more students each year and send them into school with everything they need to succeed.
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