Haley Jacobs
•8/8/2026
LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. (WINK) — Hundreds of backpacks, school supplies and plenty of games helped families in Lehigh Acres get ready for the start of a new school year Saturday.
Lee County Parks and Recreation hosted a free Back-to-School Bash at Veterans Park Recreation Center from 10 a.m. to noon.
Families lined up outside the recreation center before the event, with backpacks filled with school supplies available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies lasted.
Lee County Parks and Recreation said staff, volunteers, community partners and donors helped collect more than 600 backpacks for this year’s event.
Inside the recreation center, kids could also take part in games, spin prize wheels and visit tables set up by local organizations.
For incoming fourth grader Michael Lawrence, the event meant leaving with several things he will need when he returns to Sunshine Elementary.
“I got a book bag, some pencils, a glue stick, and some notebooks,” Lawrence said.
When asked which item he expected to use the most, his answer was simple: a pencil.
“Because you have to write a lot in fourth grade, and we had to write a lot in third grade,” Lawrence said.
His favorite item, though, was the glue stick.
The event was designed to help students start the school year prepared while also giving families a chance to enjoy activities before classes begin.
Community organizations also attended the bash to give out prizes and other items.
Angela Alexander, a district manager with Money Mart, said the company participated in the event last year and returned again this year as a way to support families in Lehigh Acres.
“We enjoy coming out and helping the community,” Alexander said. “We did this event last year when it was outside, and then this year we came inside, and we put the table together and just our way of giving back to the community.”
Alexander said Saturday’s focus was on the children.
“Today it was about the kids,” she said. “So we had the games, and we gave out water bottles, we gave out koozies, we gave out pens, we gave out scarves.”
She said the turnout showed how much families value having community resources available before school starts.
“The turnout was great,” Alexander said. “It's amazing when the community comes together to help out, and to see all of the kids that were happy and excited to start back school, it makes everything worthwhile.”
Lawrence said he is feeling good about heading back to class and is especially looking forward to P.E.
“Because we get to have recess and have fun,” he said.
Lee County students return to school on Tuesday, August 11th.
