Milwaukee families gathered at several different community giveaways throughout the weekend to pick up free books, backpacks, bicycles and other supplies ahead of the new school year.

The events helped families offset back-to-school costs that can add up quickly. Nationally, parents are expected to spend an average of $557 per child on back-to-school purchases, according to a 2026 Deloitte survey.

Farbis Zahir, 13, looks through his new backpack filled with school supplies, including a graphing calculator.

On Friday, MKE’s Biggest Free Library hosted its fifth annual event, offering thousands of books, with no limit to how many books you could take home.

This event was put on in collaboration between Barby the Book Fairy, Komatsu and Literacy Services of Wisconsin at Kosciuszko Community Center, 2201 S. 7th St.

A custom-made arch made from books on display during the MKE’s Biggest Free Library event.

On Sunday, the fourth annual Back to School Festival, created by 2nd District Ald. Mark Chambers Jr. in partnership with the Milwaukee Police Department District 7, provided families with free bookbags filled with school supplies, haircuts, food and a bike raffle at Indigenous Peoples’ Park, 7301 W. Courtland Ave.

Ald. Mark Chambers talks to attendees during the fourth annual Back to School Festival at Indigenous Peoples’ Park on Sunday, Aug. 30.

Jessie Pounds, a barber, cuts a student’s hair for free during the fourth annual Back to School Festival.

Children stand behind a fence, looking at rows of bicycles during the fourth annual Back to School Festival.

n: Linden Shaw, 6, walks out with his new backpack full of school supplies.

Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.

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Community giveaways help Milwaukee families gear up for school

by Jonathan Aguilar / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service / CatchLight Local, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
September 2, 2026

<h1>Community giveaways help Milwaukee families gear up for school</h1>
<p class="byline">by Jonathan Aguilar / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service / CatchLight Local, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service <br />September 2, 2026</p>

<p>Milwaukee families gathered at several different community giveaways throughout the weekend to pick up free books, backpacks, bicycles and other supplies ahead of the new school year.</p>
<p>The events helped families offset back-to-school costs that can add up quickly. Nationally, parents are expected to spend an average of $557 per child on back-to-school purchases, according to a 2026 Deloitte survey.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/G86A5417-1-1024x819.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-176448" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Farbis Zahir, 13, looks through his new backpack filled with school supplies, including a graphing calculator.</figcaption></figure>
<p>On Friday, MKE’s Biggest Free Library hosted its fifth annual event, offering thousands of books, with no limit to how many books you could take home.</p>
<p>This event was put on in collaboration between <a href="https://www.facebook.com/barbybookfairy/">Barby the Book Fairy</a>, Komatsu and Literacy Services of Wisconsin at Kosciuszko Community Center, 2201 S. 7th St.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/G84A5177-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-176447" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A custom-made arch made from books on display during the MKE's Biggest Free Library event.</figcaption></figure>
<p>On Sunday, the fourth annual Back to School Festival, created by 2nd District Ald. Mark Chambers Jr. in partnership with the Milwaukee Police Department District 7, provided families with free bookbags filled with school supplies, haircuts, food and a bike raffle at Indigenous Peoples’ Park, 7301 W. Courtland Ave.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/G84A5613-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-176446" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ald. Mark Chambers talks to attendees during the fourth annual Back to School Festival at Indigenous Peoples' Park on Sunday, Aug. 30.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/G84A5376-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-176444" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jessie Pounds, a barber, cuts a student's hair for free during the fourth annual Back to School Festival.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/G84A5642-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-176443" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Children stand behind a fence, looking at rows of bicycles during the fourth annual Back to School Festival.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://i0.wp.com/milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/G84A5387-scaled.jpg?fit=1708%2C2560&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-176294" /></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/G84A5683-edited-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-176324" /></figure>
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<figure class="wp-block-image alignfull size-full"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/G86A5641-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-176441" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">n: Linden Shaw, 6, walks out with his new backpack full of school supplies.</figcaption></figure>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
<p><em>Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between</em> <a href="https://www.catchlight.io/local"><em>CatchLight Local</em></a> <em>and</em> <a href="https://www.reportforamerica.org/"><em>Report for America</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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Community giveaways help Milwaukee families gear up for school

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