Over the next couple weeks, Bakersfield will be home to multiple community Back To School events that will provide resources to those that attend.

On August 4, the Kern County Department of Child Support Services will be hosting their 13th annual Ready-Set Back 2 School Health & Wellness Fair at the Kern County Museum. The event will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will provide free backpacks.

“The Kern County Department of Child Support Services believes in creating a better life for children,” the organization’s website states. “The purpose of this event is to connect families and children with community resources. During this event Kern County children receive free backpacks and free school supplies to help them prepare to go back to school. Other resources provided at the event are free childhood immunizations, nutrition education, health information, and several community service organizations.”

Families are invited to receive a free backpack and explore the Kern County Museum. There will be a limit of one backpack per child, Kindergarten-12th grade, while supplies last. The child must be present.

The Kern County Department of Child Support Services will have various additional resources for parents and teenagers.

Additionally, the Ready-Set Back 2 School Health & Wellness Fair will have a free COVID-19 vaccine clinic. The first 25 people to get vaccinated will receive a $25 gas card and a $25 Walmart gift card through Kern Sol News and the Community Action Partnership of Kern’s (CAPK) Vaccine Equity Project. All other event attendees can receive a $25 Walmart gift card as supplies last.

On August 9, the MLKcommUNITY Initiative will be hosting a Back To School event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Jerusalem Mission Church in Bakersfield. This event will provide free immunizations and COVID-19 testing, a backpack giveaway, and free medical exams such as sports physicals and dental exams.

This event will provide information on Rental & Utility Assistance, free lunch and food boxes, giveaways for gas and gift cards, music, and a special performance by DAT Kew Academy.

On August 13, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the St. John Missionary Baptist Church will be providing fully stocked backpacks, haircuts and braiding, giveaways, and water fun through their Backpacks, Baptism, and Community Resource Fair event.

The event will be hosted by Javon Dangerfield and provide free music along with community resources.

On August 14, a free community Back To School Basketball Game & Supply event will be happening at 3 p.m. at Bakersfield High School. This event will include free hair cuts, backpacks for students in PRE-K to high school, and a basketball game between the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Wendale Davis Foundation.