Harris County groups host back-to-school giveaways as supply costs rise
Free backpacks and school supplies will be handed out across Houston-area events, including the city’s Aug. 1 health fair at George R. Brown.
Free backpacks, school supplies and health screenings will reach Houston-area families at the City of Houston’s 16th annual Mayor’s Back 2 School & Health Fair at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The fair, presented by Shell, is aimed at economically disadvantaged elementary school students and their families as they prepare for the new school year.
The city set the fair for Saturday, Aug. 1, and volunteers were already packing backpacks on July 28 for the event. For parents trying to keep children ready for class without adding more strain to the household budget, the timing matters: basic supplies are costing more, and every free notebook, folder and backpack can help cut the bill before the first bell rings.
Other giveaways are spread across Houston this week. LifeGift listed a Back-to-School School Supplies Giveaway for Friday, July 31, from 2 to 7 p.m. at 2510 Westridge St. in Houston. Houston Public Library also promoted a Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway with free backpacks and school supplies while supplies last, along with information about library programs and services.
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is also running a 2026 Back-to-School Supply Drive for backpacks filled with essential school supplies for children and families in its programs. KHOU 11 said organizers planned to distribute 20,000 backpacks filled with school supplies at one giveaway event, underscoring how large the seasonal push has become across the region.
The cost pressure is not abstract. USAFacts put Houston metro inflation at 0.8% in June 2026, and NerdWallet said back-to-school costs still add up even when families trim spending in some categories. In that setting, the giveaways from the city, nonprofits and neighborhood partners offer more than convenience: they can keep a Harris County student from starting school short on the basics.
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