Many Akron-area organizations are hosting back-to-school giveaways where students can get backpacks, school supplies and food as well as haircuts. 

If you need shoes, the annual shoe giveaway at North High School for school-age children will have more than 1,000 pairs of shoes available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Check out the list below for a round-up of Akron events. 

If you can’t find all the supplies your child needs at these events, Ohio’s tax-free holiday exemptions, which now include more than school supplies, will run from Aug. 1 to Aug. 14. 

Signal Akron is helping sponsor its own giveaway this year, along with JPMorganChase, Starbucks and other area sponsors, at House Three Thirty at 532 W. Market St. We’ll have backpacks filled with school supplies, refreshments, sweet treats and access to community resources, including sports physicals, onsite screenings and other health resources at I PROMISE HealthQuarters across the street. Come see us Aug. 7 from noon to 6 p.m.

Did we miss a giveaway? Email news@signalakron.org with the information and we’ll add it to the list.

August giveaways feature shoes, haircuts and free Akron Zoo admission

Aug. 2 | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | 825 Fuller St.

The You Matter Foundation Block Party at Joy Park Community Center will offer backpacks filled with school supplies, amusement park fun, picnic food, popcorn and treats. Music will be provided by local DJs, and the day will feature back-to-school haircuts, a nail salon and Akron Fire truck tours. The Akron/Summit County Library Bookmobile, Akron Children’s Hospital, CareSource, Akron ZooMobile, 811 Utility Bus, and various community resources will be on site as well.

Aug. 2 | Noon to 2 p.m. | 985 Gorge Blvd.

Annual shoe giveaway at North High School for school-age children, with more than 1,000 pairs of shoes available on a first-come, first-served basis. Haircuts, vendors and community resources will also be available. 

Aug. 2 | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | 587 S. Arlington St.

Livingstone Apostolic Church is hosting a Community Back to School Giveaway with free backpacks and school supplies, resource information, hotdogs and ice cream.

Aug. 2 | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | 825 Fuller St.

Akron Energy Systems, in partnership with Summit Racing, is hosting a Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway at Joy Park. The event will include free facepainting, haircuts and school supplies. 

Aug. 2 | 10 a.m. to noon | 3680 Manchester Road

Movement Church is hosting its annual Back to School Giveaway with free school supplies, haircuts and snacks for all families. 

Aug. 5 and 6 | 4 – 8 p.m. | Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Ave.

Akron Public Schools and the Akron Zoo are hosting Backpack Adventure for Akron Public Schools’ students entering kindergarten through 5th grades during the 2025-2026 school year. Students and two guests will receive free admission to the zoo and a free backpack filled with school supplies (while they last). Resources, fun for the family and entertainment will also be on hand. For more information, call 330-761-2706.

Aug. 7 | Noon to 6 p.m. | 532 W. Market St.

Signal Akron, Chase and Starbucks are hosting a back-to-school event at House Three Thirty. Backpacks, school supplies, sweet treats and health and informational resources will be given to any family that attends.

Aug. 9 | Immediately following 10 a.m. youth service | 527 N. Howard St.

Shelton Temple Prayer Church of God in Christ is hosting a “Youth on the Move” event with free school supplies, haircuts and more.

Aug. 9 | Noon to 2 p.m. | 230 W. Market St. 

ACCESS, Inc. Women’s Shelter is hosting a school supply backpack giveaway, with food and games.  

Aug. 10 | 2 – 5 p.m. | 365 S. Main St.

Hair Geek Studios is hosting its 8th Annual South Main Street Back-2-School Block Party. The event will include free backpacks and school supplies, haircuts, games and food. 

Aug. 16 | noon to 2 p.m. | 390 W. Crosier St.

VAF Health & Wellness is hosting a back-to-school supply giveaway at the Reach Center. Children must be present to participate.

Aug. 16 | 10 a.m. | 1671 E. Market St.

The PRTW Foundation will host its 4th Annual Back 2 School Drive with free bookbags, pencils, art supplies and more, while supplies last. 

Aug. 16 | 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. | 451 N. Main St.

AkronUnity is holding its first Back 2 School Giveaway event including free backpacks, school supplies, haircuts and nail care. Food and activities will be included. 

Aug. 16 |10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | 1480 Girard St.

A Stuff the Bus event will be held at the Firestone Park Community Center, sponsored by the Akron Area YMCA and the Akron Recreation & Parks department. Free school supplies and haircuts, hygiene products, yoga sessions and more are included.

Aug. 17 | 1 – 5 p.m. | Buchtel High School, 1040 Copley Road

Dream a Wig and Buchtel High School Football will host its 4th annual Back to School Fresh Looks event, with free haircuts, dreads, retwists and braids (kids getting braids must come with their hair washed and blown dry), school supplies, book bags, food and more. Call 216-759-7103.

Aug. 18 | 1 to 5 p.m. | 730 Perkins Park Dr.

The Jerry Rowland Annual Back to School Event will be held at the Ed Davis Community Center. Free haircuts and community resources will be available. For more information, call 330-375-2832.

Aug. 20 | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | 2202 Romig Road

Beyond Expectations Community Fund and the County of Summit ADM Board are offering free hair cuts, school supplies and food. Call 330-745-8288 for more information.

Aug. 23 | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | 514 Diagonal Rd.

Wintergreen Ledges Church of God is hosting its Family Fun Day & Back to School Supply Drive. The event will include back-to-school supplies, games and food.

Kristine Gill is a freelance writer based in Willoughby with experience covering real estate, crime, higher education and health. She majored in newspaper journalism and creative writing at Kent State and runs a fiction workshop for local writers. She spent a decade living in Florida, working first as a reporter for the Naples Daily News. She later worked as a media relations specialist for the Collier County Sheriff's Office.

Community & service reporter (they/them)
Reegan Davis Saunders is Signal Akron’s community & service reporter. Reegan studied journalism and art at Kent State University, and they are passionate about the intersection of the two disciplines.

Although Reegan grew up in metro Detroit, they have always been an Ohio State Buckeyes fan. After living in Kent the past few years, they are excited to explore more of Akron, especially the coffee shops.

At Signal Akron, Reegan hopes to serve underrepresented communities by creating more accessible content.

Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.