Back-To-School Giveaways in Riverside, CA: Updated 2026 List for Local Winners
See which Riverside 2026 school-supply events ended, who qualified, and why no verified giveaway remains open.
As of August 31, 2026, no verified back-to-school giveaway remains open in Riverside, California. The updated list contains three completed events—held July 11, July 18, and August 8—not active opportunities for local winners. These events distributed supplies or services under attendance, eligibility, registration, or availability rules.
They were not sweepstakes with randomly selected winners.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on August 31, 2026.
Is any Riverside giveaway still open?
No documented 2026 event is still accepting participants. Families should not travel to the listed locations expecting backpacks, shoes, haircuts, or other supplies. "Free" also did not mean reserved.
Two events distributed limited items on a first-come, first-served basis, while another served a narrowly defined student group through registration.
July events and their eligibility rules
The City of Riverside held its 24th Annual Backpack Giveaway and Resource Fair on July 11 at Bordwell Park. It served K–12 students, but the child had to attend and limited backpacks and supplies were distributed first come, first served, according to the City's event listing. Project Boon held another event July 18 at Norte Vista High School.
Registered guests received lunch, new shoes, school-supply backpacks, haircut vouchers, and other support. Eligibility was restricted to TK–12 foster youth or students experiencing housing insecurity who attended an Alvord Unified or charter school, according to Project Boon.
What the August 8 county fair provided
Riverside County's Department of Child Support Services held its fourth annual Family Support Resource Fair on August 8 at 2081 Iowa Avenue. Available services included school-supply backpacks, haircuts, sports physicals, snacks, and family resources, as detailed by Riverside County. Admission and walk-ins were free.
However, backpacks and school supplies were limited and distributed first come, first served while supplies lasted.
Why the RUHS backpack drive was different
Riverside University Health System collected donated school supplies from July 20 through August 7. Those donations were intended for children and youth receiving RUHS Behavioral Health services, according to the RUHS drive page. That campaign was a donation drive rather than a public walk-in distribution.
Families reviewing future listings should check the event date, student eligibility, child-attendance requirement, registration process, and supply limits before visiting.