Several events will hand out backpacks, school supplies, and family resources from July 25 to August 1. Supplies are limited and some events require students to be present.
Families in the Houston area will receive free backpacks, school supplies, and other resources during several events scheduled before the start of the 2026-2027 school year.
The first distributions will take place on Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26. The Houston Independent School District (HISD) will also host a resource fair on Saturday, August 1 at Delmar Fieldhouse.
Backpacks and materials will be available while supplies last. Some days require children to be present, and others offer pre-registration.
Related: Back-to-School Fair in Houston will give 20,000 backpacks to students
Operation Backpack will hand out 3,000 backpacks on July 25
Operation Backpack will distribute 3,000 backpacks with school supplies on Saturday, July 25 at Launch Family Entertainment.
The event will run from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 13331 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077.
Families that complete pre-registration will receive one backpack for each registered child, while supplies last. Children must be present to receive them.
The event will also feature free admission to Launch attractions during the event hours, plus music with a DJ, ice cream, and community resources.
Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: Launch Family Entertainment
Address: 13331 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077
Requirement: children must be present to receive a backpack
Registration and participation requirements are available on the Operation Backpack 2026 page.
At PlazaAmericas they will also give away school supplies
The back-to-school season begins at PlazaAmericas with the 19th Annual Back-to-School Campaign, Health Fair, and Business Expo at PlazaAmericas. There will be resources for the community, health services, and everything needed to prepare your family for the new school year.
Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026
Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Place: PlazaAmericas
Address: 201 Sharpstown Center, Houston, TX 77036
Houston-area Stores will give away backpacks on July 26
The annual School Rocks distribution will begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 26 at participating Wireless Zone stores.
Each present child will receive a free backpack, while supplies last. The promotion covers one backpack per child.
The participating locations in the Houston area are:
Houston: 3351 Clear Lake City Blvd., Suite 600
Conroe: 1140 North FM 3083 West Road, Suite 300
Fulshear: 27117 Fulshear Bend Drive, Suite 200
Bay City: 3420 7th Street
Some backpacks distributed nationwide will include a gold ruler keychain that will grant access to a $250 Visa card for other school-related expenses. The selection will be random and not all participating stores will have a winning backpack.
Date: Sunday, July 26, 2026
Start time: 1 p.m.
Availability: one backpack per child present, while supplies last
Pasadena will receive donations for students on July 27
The Fill the Bus campaign will collect school supplies on Monday, July 27 at the Pasadena Convention Center.
This day is a donation collection point and not a direct backpack distribution to families. Materials will be destined for teachers and students of Pasadena Independent School District.
The campaign accepts backpacks, notebooks, pencils, ballpoint pens, markers, crayons, folders, paper, glue, scissors, tissue boxes, and hand sanitizer.
Date: Monday, July 27, 2026
Time: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Pasadena Convention Center
Address: 7902 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena, TX 77505
Activity: collection of school supplies for Pasadena ISD
The City of Pasadena also accepts online contributions and maintains a list of classroom supply requests.
HISD will have backpacks, supplies, and family resources on August 1
HISD will hold its Ready, Set, School! event on Saturday, August 1 at Delmar Fieldhouse.
The event will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 2020 Mangum Road, Houston, TX 77092.
Families will be able to receive backpacks and school supplies while supplies last. There will also be free haircuts for students, routine health screenings, and access to district departments.
Enrollment staff, transportation, nutrition, and other services will be on hand to assist with processes and questions before the first day of school.
Each family will receive a readiness list and a tour document to identify outstanding issues related to the new school year.
Date: Saturday, August 1, 2026
Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Place: Delmar Fieldhouse
Address: 2020 Mangum Road, Houston, TX 77092
Services: backpacks, school supplies, haircuts, health screenings, and HISD assistance
The mayor’s fair will distribute 20,000 backpacks on the same day
The Mayor’s Back 2 School & Health Fair will also take place on Saturday, August 1, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
The event will include the distribution of 20,000 backpacks with school supplies for elementary students in the Houston area. It will also offer dental and vision exams, mental health evaluations, immunizations, and community resources.
The event requires registration for students and will take place at 1001 Avenida de las Americas, in downtown Houston.
State lottery will give 15 gift cards of $200
A Texas-residents open drawing will award 15 gift cards of $200 for back-to-school expenses.
Participation will be open until 10 a.m. on August 19. Participants must be at least 18 years old and only one entry per person and one winner per household allowed.
This option does not include a physical backpack distribution and prizes will be awarded by random drawing.
Back-to-School supply and resource calendar
July 25: Operation Backpack, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 13331 Westheimer Road
July 25: PlazaAmericas, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 201 Sharpstown Center, Houston, TX 77036
July 26: School Rocks, from 1 p.m., participating stores in Houston, Conroe, Fulshear, and Bay City
July 27: Fill the Bus, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pasadena Convention Center; this event accepts donations
August 1: HISD Ready, Set, School!, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Delmar Fieldhouse
August 1: Mayor’s Back 2 School & Health Fair, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., George R. Brown Convention Center
August 19: deadline for the state gift card drawing of $200
The availability of backpacks and supplies depends on each event’s stock. Operation Backpack and School Rocks require minors to be present to receive items.
