Downtown Holland is excited to join the I AM Academy, Epic Boys & Girls Club, Escape Ministries, and the Salvation Army to host the annual Back2School community giveaway on Thursday, August 6 from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm at the Holland Civic Center Place! Local families are invited to Back2School to receive free backpacks and school supplies for their elementary, middle, and high school students while enjoying free ice cream from Macatawa Bank and the Polar Patrol, along with giveaways from area businesses and non-profit organizations. Each student will also receive a $3.00 voucher in their backpack good towards a frozen yogurt or gelato at Peachwave Frozen Yogurt & Gelato in Downtown Holland, Back2School’s legacy partner sponsor.
The goal of Back2School is to provide over 2,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to area families to ensure that all children in our community are set up for success when they return to school this fall so they can meet their maximum potential. Organizers are currently seeking donations of backpacks and school supplies, both from members of the public and local businesses, to help reach this goal. Backpacks and school supplies can be purchased from an online wish list found at https://bit.ly/4vK4o83 and shipped directly to the Salvation Army (104 Clover Street, Holland, MI 49423) by July 30. Monetary donations can also be made online at https://bit.ly/4gQiGQV by July 30. All funds donated will be used to purchase backpacks and school supplies.
Donations of backpacks and school supplies are also being collected by the following Downtown Holland businesses and can be dropped off anytime during their normal business hours. The list of supply items most needed for Back2School can be viewed at https://bit.ly/4flMBPU.
Apothecary Gift Shop
Borr's Shoes
Canterbury Cottage Interiors
Culture Cheese Shop
Frances Jaye
Hops at 84 East
Jean Marie's
Lemonjello's Coffee
LVZ Financial Planning
New Holland Brewing Co.
Salon Cheveux
Tip Toes
Donations can be dropped off to Downtown Holland businesses through the morning of Thursday, July 29, so they can be received in time for the host organizations to stuff backpacks on Friday, July 30.
“Giving back to the community is extremely important to our Downtown Holland businesses and to our organization as a whole,” said Downtown Holland Marketing Coordinator Kara de Alvare. “The success of our small local businesses really depends on the year-round support of our local community and contributing to an event like Back2School is one way we can thank the community and show our appreciation of their on-going support of Downtown Holland.”
JB & Me, The Poppy Peach, LLC, Thomas A. Davis Jeweler, and Vulpine in Downtown Holland are also supporting the Back2School effort by purchasing school supplies and supporting the event financially, in addition to Community Choice Credit Union, Latin Americans United for Progress (LAUP), Grace Episcopal Church, Hope Church, and many other local businesses, churches, and non-profit organizations.
