Where to find free school supply drives in Amarillo

AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – As the start of the 2024-2025 school year approaches, families around Amarillo have once again found themselves organizing their schedules and scrambling for school supplies.

However, at a time when a growing number of families have needed help to cover basic needs like food, housing and utilities, many around the High Plains have been looking to find cheap or free school supplies for their students.

Here’s a look at a number of upcoming school supply giveaways in Amarillo and information on where and how to buy supplies at lower costs during an August sales tax holiday.

Back-to-school supply giveaways in Amarillo

Back to School Backpack Giveaway

• Saturday, July 20
• 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

• Emmanuel Temple Church
• 900 N Adams St.

• The event will include a backpack giveaway and the Amarillo Public Health Department will be on-site to provide vaccines for four-year-olds, 11-year-olds and 12th graders who are uninsured, underinsured or have Medicaid.

• Sunday, July 28
• 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.

• The Party Suites of Amarillo
• 4400 S Washington

• The event will include haircuts, 100 free backpacks, and school supplies.

Amarillo Fellowship Church Back to School Drive

• Saturday, Aug. 3
• 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

• Amarillo Fellowship Church
• 8425 Bell St.

• The event will include haircuts, backpacks, and school supplies.

Village Park Church School Supplies Drive-Through

• Saturday, Aug. 10
• 11 a.m.

• Village Park Church
• 12911 NE 11th Ave.

• The event will include a giveaway of “standard school supplies.”

Back to School Block Party at Amazing Grace

• Sunday, Aug. 11
• 4 p.m.

• Amazing Grace Amarillo
• 8700 Clinton Glenn

• The event will include free school supplies and other family activities.

Back to School Barrio Bash Horseshoe Tournament and School Supply Drive

• Sunday, Aug. 11
• 12 p.m.

• El Alamo Park
• 1621 S Houston St

• The event will include free haircuts, hamburgers and hotdogs as well as a giveaway at 2 p.m. of free backpacks filled with school supplies.

Free school supply resources in Amarillo

Low-cost school supplies in Amarillo

Just Between Friends Pop-Up Kids Sale

• Thursday, July 25 – Saturday, July 27
• 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

• Amarillo Civic Center Complex

• 403 S Buchanan St.

Low-cost school supply resources

Texas Sales Tax Holiday

The Texas Comptroller’s Office announced that a tax-free weekend will be held from Friday, Aug. 9 through Sunday, Aug. 11, with sales tax exemptions applying to items like clothing, face masks, backpacks and school supplies.

The office published lists of items that will be included in the tax holiday, such as:

• Clothing, footwear and other items; and
• School supplies.

As noted by the office, most footwear and clothing sold for less than $100 will be eligible for the tax exemption, as well as specific school supplies sold for less than $100. However, some specialty items like athletic clothing, jewelry and certain baggage items, software and textbooks will not be included in the tax holiday.

Further information on the tax holiday and its guidelines can be found here.

For the latest Amarillo news and regional updates, check with MyHighPlains.com and tune in to KAMR Local 4 News at 5:00, 6:00, and 10:00 p.m. and Fox 14 News at 9:00 p.m. CST.