August 1, 2026 Back-to-School Bash Free and Open to Lake County Families & Children in Need

Mentor, OH (July 2, 2026) – Organizers of Lake County's annual Back-to-School Bash (BTSB) have announced that this year's free event will take place on Saturday, August 1, 2026. Open to Lake County families and children in need, the event is designed to help students start the 2026–2027 school year prepared for success by providing essential school supplies, clothing, health services, and connections to valuable community resources.

The BTSB will be held at Harvey High School, located at 200 W. Walnut Avenue in Painesville with visitors welcome to attend anytime between 9 am to 1 pm.

School supplies and clothing will be available for free while supplies last, and services will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Access to the following will be available at no charge: backpacks filled with school supplies, clothing and outerwear, haircuts, vision screenings, dental services, hearing screenings, family photos, and community resources from nearly 40 agencies.

More information along with Spanish and English versions of the event flyer can be accessed at uwlc.org/BTSB.

This year marked the first time United Way of Lake County (UWLC) coordinated the BTSB in partnership with a broad coalition of community organizations. It also marked the third consecutive year UWLC organized a community clothing drive to operate the event's free clothing shop for families in need. The event was previously organized by the Lake County Family and Children First Council. The Salvation Army has continued its longstanding role of collecting and preparing backpacks and school supplies.

"School readiness is about more than reading at grade level or knowing your letters and numbers," said UWLC President & CEO Dione DeMitro. "For many children, it also means having the confidence that comes with walking into the classroom equipped with needed supplies and clothing. Every child deserves the opportunity to begin the school year feeling prepared, confident and ready to learn."

We are honored to help lead this important community event and grateful to all of the partners, community resource agencies, and the Painesville City Schools for once again opening Harvey High School to host the Back-to-School Bash," she said.

Participating Community Resource Agencies

The following organizations will provide information, services, and resources during the 2026 BTSB: Bikers Against Child Abuse, Birthright Lake County, Bright Beginnings, Catholic Charities, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Crossroads Health, Extended Housing, Fair Housing Resource Center, Family Pride of Northeast Ohio, Footsteps to Brilliance, Forbes House, HOLA, Lake County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Lake County Free Clinic, Lake County General Health District, Lake County Job and Family Services, Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers, Lakeland Community College, Laketran, LC Veterans Services, LGBTQ+, Lifeline, Morley Library, NAMI Lake County, OSU Lake County Extension, Painesville City Local Schools, Project Hope for the Homeless, Project Hope for the Homeless - Families Moving Forward, Signature Health, SPSH, Starting Point, The Hope Chest, The Salvation Army, THINK Manufacturing, Torchlight Youth Mentoring Alliance, Universal Health Services, Wickliffe Family Resource Center, and Women Safe.

Coalition of BTSB Partners

Partners include Altered Church, Chick-fil-A (Mentor), LaBarberia Institute of Hair, Ladies & Gentlemen Salon and Spa, Lake County ADAMHS Board, Lake County Free Clinic, Lake County General Health District, Lake County Job and Family Services, Little Scholars Early Learning Center, Northeast Ohio Dental Hygienists Association, Our Future Reuse, Painesville City Local Schools, Painesville Lions Club, PropNPose, Salvation Army Corps Community Center, Signature Health, Sounds of Life Hearing, Trinity Church, and United Way of Lake County.