United Way of Lake County Announces Back-to-School Bash Helped 1,531 Lake County Residents Prepare for the New School Year
Mentor, OH (August 11, 2026) – The 2026 Lake County Back-to-School Bash (BTSB) helped 1,531 Lake County residents prepare for the upcoming school year, providing free clothing, school supplies, health services, and connections to valuable community resources.
Held August 1 at Harvey High School in Painesville, the free event was open to Lake County families and children in need. United Way of Lake County (UWLC) coordinated the event for the first time in partnership with a broad coalition of community organizations.
Of the 1,531 people served, 1,360 visited the event’s free clothing room, where families had the opportunity to shop for essentials at no cost. Nearly 17,000 items—including clothing, shoes, winter coats, formal dresses, and accessories—were donated to UWLC through its community clothing drive, which began in April.
The Salvation Army continued its long-standing tradition of helping Lake County students prepare for the school year, distributing 1,323 backpacks filled with school supplies through its annual school supply drive, ensuring students had essential materials to start the 2026–2027 school year ready to learn.
In addition to clothing and school supplies, attendees had access to free haircuts, vision screenings, dental services, hearing screenings, family photos, immunizations, and information and resources from 31 community health and human service agencies.
More than 250 volunteers participated at the Back-to-School Bash, with hundreds more donating their time in the weeks and months leading up to the event to sort donations, prepare supplies, organize clothes, and help make the event possible.
“Watching so many families come through the doors and leave with the clothing, shoes, school supplies and resources they needed was a great example of what is possible when our community works together,” said UWLC President & CEO Dione DeMitro. “No single organization could make an event like this happen. It takes hundreds of volunteers, generous donors, businesses, schools, nonprofits and community partners all stepping up and doing their part. And at the end of the day, all of that effort is about one thing—making sure kids in our community can walk into school feeling prepared, confident and ready to learn.”
“We are so grateful to everyone who donated, volunteered, and contributed resources to make this event possible,” DeMitro added. “And I especially want to recognize The Salvation Army. They continue to take on an incredible amount of the heavy lifting required to bring this event together, and their commitment to the children and families in our community is what makes a day like this possible.”
The 2026 BTSB 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.
Participating Community Resource Agencies
The following organizations provided information, services, and resources during the 2026 BTSB: AWT Foundation, Birthright, Catholic Charities, Crossroads Health, Forbes House, Ground Zero Elevated, Help Me Grow, Lake County ADAMHS Board, Lake County Free Clinic, Lake County General Health District, Lake County General Health District/WIC, Lake County Job and Family Services, Lake County JFS Child Support, Lake County Libraries, Lake County Victim Assistance, Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers, Lakeland Community College, Laketran, Lifeline, NAMI Lake County, Ohio Means Jobs, Painesville VFW Auxiliary, Project Hope for the Homeless, Salvation Army Corps Community Center, Signature Health, Starting Point, The Hope Chest, Torchlight Youth Mentoring Alliance, Wickliffe Family Resource Center, and WomenSafe.
Coalition of BTSB Partners
Partners included 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, Lux Balloons, Northeast Ohio Dental Hygienists Association, Our Future Reuse, Painesville City Local Schools, Painesville Lions Club, Pop Culture Friends, PropNPose, Salvation Army Corps Community Center, Signature Health, Sounds of Life Hearing, Trinity Church, Two Men and A Truck, and United Way of Lake County.