Back to School Calendar

Here’s a listing of back-to-school drives and events to help you and your community prepare for the new school year, which starts Aug. 20 in Orange County and Aug. 13 in Seminole County.

A Gift For Teaching

A Gift For Teaching’s annual back-to-school PUSH (for kids) campaign runs through September. It’s a community-wide engagement effort to generate the supplies and resources students need for the school year. This year’s goal is to raise $140,000 and 1.4 million school supplies. And the organization has the power to leverage your $1 gift into $10 worth of supplies for a child. To make a contribution, visit www.agiftforteaching.org and click on “Donate Now.” Checks can also be mailed to: A Gift For Teaching, 6501 Magic Way, Bldg. #400C, Orlando, FL 32809.

Visit these retailers, which are offering special promotions and deals to benefit A Gift For Teaching:

• Every Friday in August / Food Truck Fridays at RDV Sportsplex: Come from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and a portion of proceeds will benefit A Gift For Teaching.

• Aug. 12 / Fashion Square Mall: Bring brand new school supplies and help see how many supplies it takes to fill up the interior of a 2013 Ford Escape. First 100 patrons receive a voucher for a free Yum Yum cupcake.

• Aug. 28 / 4Rivers: Dine at the Winter Park 4Rivers location and mention A Gift For Teaching, where 10 percent of your total will be donated to A Gift For Teaching.

• Sept. 8 / Camp Gladiator at Blue Jacket Park: Meet at 9 a.m. for a fitness boot camp. Cost is $10 and all proceeds will benefit A Gift For Teaching.

For more information, visit www.agiftforteaching.com or call 407-318-3123.

Summer of Dreams

Fifth Third Bank is accepting donations for school supplies and financial contributions for the Summer of Dreams through August. To donate or learn more, visit www.TheSummerofDreams.com or www.agiftforteaching.org

Children’s Home Society of Florida

The Children’s Home Society of Florida, Central Florida Division is hosting a back-to-school drive. They are accepting donations at the following drop-off locations:

• Jersey Mike’s at 4004 N. Goldenrod Road, Winter Park

• Seacoast National Bank at 541 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland

• Seacoast National Bank at 2101 W. State Road 434, Longwood

• The Central Florida Division's development main office at 1375 S. Semoran Blvd., Winter Park

Call 321-397-3004 to schedule deliveries. Visit http://chsfl.org/bts

School supplies on sale

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Orlando’s two ReStore locations received a huge donation of brand new school supplies and is selling them at 30 to 60 percent off retail prices. That includes pens, highlighters, notebooks, glue, etc. The store is on Colonial Drive just East of Lake Baldwin Lane, 4835 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando.

Donate last year’s clothes to Goodwill

Donate last year’s wardrobe to Goodwill Industries of Central Florida before buying new school clothes this year… As our children prepare to go back to school, parents have the opportunity to teach them a valuable life lesson: what to do with the things they no longer need. Before purchasing those much-needed sneakers, clothes and supplies, parents can take the time with their kids to sift through the things they’ve outgrown and decide whether they can be donated to Goodwill. Not only is donating to and shopping at Goodwill good for people, it’s great for the planet because it diverts items from landfills. One of the greatest lessons we can teach our children is to be socially conscious citizens who care for their communities. The store is at 750 N. Orange Ave. in Winter Park. To help kids calculate the positive impact of their Goodwill donations, visit the Donation Impact Calculator (patent pending) at donate.goodwill.org