OCALA, FL (352Today.com)They’re combining forces for the second year in a row to help the kids! The Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County, AdventHealth Ocala, and Marion County Public Schools will make it possible for thousands of local students to receive free backpacks filled with supplies just in time for the start of school.
The second annual Community Giveback event is supported by Skanska, Thaddeus Bullard (aka WWE Global Ambassador Titus O’Neil), and The Bullard Family Foundation is Saturday, July 29, and will distribute over 7,000 backpacks filled with school supplies at 10 locations throughout Marion County.
The main location will be at the AdventHealth Ocala Auxiliary Center (1542 SW 1st Ave, Ocala, 34471) from 10AM-1PM. Satellite locations are also open 10AM-1PM and include:
· Dunnellon Middle School (21005 Chestnut St., Dunnellon, 34431)
· Fort McCoy School (16160 NE CR 315, Fort McCoy, 32134)
· Lake Weir High School (10351 SE Maricamp Rd., Ocala, 34472)
· Liberty Middle School (4773 SW 95 St., Ocala, 34476)
· North Marion High School (151 W. County Rd. 329, Citra, 32113)
· Friends Recycling Center Powered by Marion County Children’s Alliance (no registration required; drive-thru only)
Additional supporting sites and their alternate dates include:
- City of Belleview’s Lake Lillian (July 28, 5-8PM)
- Forest Community Center, Aug. 5, 12N-3PM)
- Frank DeLuca YMCA Gymnasium (Aug. 8, 3-7PM)
MCPS parents and guardians should register their students at this link. Each student is required to be registered under their name, not a parent or guardian name. To serve the most children possible, students can only be registered for one location. A student number for MCPS students is mandatory. If the student is attending a non-MCPS school, please enter the student ID based on the school location.
Event sponsors include: Bullard Family Foundation, Skanska, Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty, YMCA, SellState, Heart of Florida Health Center, Florida Health – Marion County, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Marion County Fire Rescue, The Boyd Group, City of Belleview, Marion County Children’s Alliance, DeLuca Toyota, Zone Health and Fitness, State Farm – Angie Lewis, SouthState, Regions Bank, Quantum Fiber, Early Learning Coalition of Marion County, Gill Logistics, Florida Army National Guard, Gold’s Gym, AR Workshop Ocala, Sensational Selfies, Ocala Metro CEP, and Dillon Media Group.
Volunteers for the event can register through Marion County Public Schools at this link or contact Lauren Debick, executive director of Communications and Community Engagement, at Lauren.Debick@marion.k12.fl.us.
This Marion County Community Giveback effort is part of a larger event sponsored in the Tampa area by the Bullard Family Foundation.
You can donate using a school supply drive list benefitting the Community Giveback effort, community members, businesses and others by purchasing supplies from https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/23UPUPEH9THQT?ref_=wl_share.
All items will be shipped to and distributed by the Community Foundation. Donation boxes will also be available throughout Ocala/Marion County and at sponsor locations.