Philadelphia Organizations to Offer Free Back-to-School Supplies, Vaccines for Students

The Philadelphia School District and several community organizations are holding free school supply giveaways and medical students to help kids prepare to return to school.

Advocates of the initiative said that, this year, providing access to free resources is essential for Philly families because of the federal government's cuts to social programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, along with delays in Pennsylvania's state budget.

“It's really important this year because with the state of the government right now, a lot of people will be losing their health insurance,” said Portia Ackridge, who operates DentMed Inc., a nonprofit that's partnering with Remote Area Medical to bring a free medical clinic to the School of the Future. According to a report by Chalkbeat Philadelphia, the clinic will offer free dental care, eyeglasses made on-site, school vaccines, physicals, and other services for children and adults. The free clinic will be held at the School of the Future at 4021 Parkside Ave. on Aug. 16 and 17 starting at 6 a.m.

In addition, the Navy Yard is collecting items for Bregy Elementary School and D. Newlin Fell Elementary in South Philadelphia through Sept. 1 at various dropoff locations. More information is available online.

For educators and families, the Philly Book Bank is giving away free books at MLK High School, 6100 Stenton Ave., with priority given to district teachers. View more information and find out how to sign up online.

Philadelphia-area students can receive free vaccines at Vaccines for Children sites across the city and discounted vaccines and physicals at various CityLife Health Clinic locations.

Find out where to receive free school supplies in Philadelphia by visiting the Chalkbeat Philadelphia website.