Free Vaccines available for Pasco County school children

School starts for Pasco County children on Monday, August 20.  Are your kids up-to-date on their required vaccinations?  Free children's immunizations are available at the Pasco County Health Department's immunization clinics!  Call to find out immunization times or to schedule an appointment:

10841 Little Road New Port Richey, FL 34654 (727) 861-5250
11611 Denton Avenue Hudson, FL 34667 (727) 861-5661
13941 15th Street Dade City, FL 33525 (352) 521-1450
4135 Land O'Lakes Blvd Land O'Lakes, FL 34639 (813) 558-5173
4717 Airport Road. Zephyrhills, FL 33540 (813) 780-0740.

NOTE: The Pasco County Health Department will be onsite at the County's middle schools to administer the Tdap vaccination free-of-charge during orientation on August 14.

Vaccines available for Pasco County school children

2012 Florida Tax-Free Weekend - THIS Weekend!

 This weekend is Florida's sales tax holiday!  Shop Friday through Sunday for back-to-school supplies and clothing!  A list of tax-exempt items follows. tip2a01-02List

Free & Reduced-Cost Lunches

Happy First Day of Summer!  While we are in the dog days of summer, don't forget to apply for the free or reduced-cost school meals program - the first day to apply online is July 1 on the Pasco County School District's website at www.pasco.k12.fl.us/free_reduced.

Families who qualify must reapply every year for assistance.  If you do not want to apply online, paper applications will be available at any Pasco County school cafeteria, administrative offices, and at school orientations starting August 1.

Regular student meal prices for the 2012-2013 school year will be $1.25 for breakfast, $2 for lunch for elementary students; $1.40 for breakfast, $2.50 to $3 for lunch for secondary students. Students who qualify for reduced meals will pay 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch. Household size and income criteria determine whether students qualify for the program.  If your family doesn't currently qualify for assistance but income or household size factors change during the school year, you can apply at any time during the school year.

For more information telephone Nicole Westmoreland at (813) 794-2438 or email her at nwestmor@pasco.k12.fl.us.

Pasco County Student Health Fair

Pasco County Student Health Fair

Free School Supplies!

If you are a parent of a school-aged child, you know how expensive August can be.  If you need a little help getting your child's school supplies together, check out one of these events to get free school supplies:




Saturday, August 7  11 a.m.-1 p.m.
2nd Annual Back to School Bash
Cobb Theatres Grove 16 & Cinebistro
6333 Wesley Grove Blvd.
Wesley Chapel, FL
Free school supplies, free games, face painting, health screens, free hair cuts

Sunday, August 15  8:10 a.m., 9:45 a.m., and 11:20 a.m.
Back to School Backpack Giveaway
Calvary Chapel Worship Center
6825 Trouble Creek Rd.
New Port Richey, FL
Free backpacks, school supplies, games, prizes, free hair cuts, gently used clothing & more.  Register online at www.ccwc.org or call Andrea Wolloff at (727) 376-7733, ext. 120 for more information.

School Supply Drives

In two weeks, Pasco County children will be returning to the classroom.  Unfortunately, not all of them can afford the supplies they need to help them succeed in their studies.  Some area organizations are collecting school supplies for these students in need.  While you are doing your shopping, consider picking up a box of crayons, a pack of notebook paper, or even a backpack and donating it to one of these organizations.

CARES Rao Musunuru, M.D. Enrichment Center
12417 Clock Tower Pkwy
Hudson, FL
Collecting notebooks, paper, pencils, backpacks, other school supplies for Hudson Elementary and Middle Schools.  Cash donations gratefully accepted.
Donations may be dropped off at the center weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.  Call (727) 863-6868 for more information.

The Volunteer Way
7820 Congress St.
New Port Richey, FL
Collecting school supplies and backpacks for the 3rd Annual School Bash.  Cash donations gratefully accepted.
Donations may be dropped off at the center between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays.  Donations should be dropped off by August 13th.  Call (727) 815-0433 for more information.

Joining Hands Community Mission
3214 U.S. 19
Holiday, FL
Collecting back to school supplies for families in need.  Donations may be dropped off at the Resource Center Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until noon or Friday from 10 a.m. until noon.  Call (727) 937-3268 for more information.

Salvation Army Community Center
7745 Ridge Rd.
Port Richey, FL
Collecting back to school supplies for families in need.  Donations needed include backpacks, highlighters, scissors, plastic zip bags, notebooks, index cards, pocket folders, binders, lined filler paper, #2 pencils, colored pens, pencils & markers, graph paper, nonscientific calculators, baby wipes, tissues and hand sanitizer.  Donations may be dropped off weekdays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Community Center on Ridge Road or at the Salvation Army Center of Hope, 8040 Washington St., Port Richey.  Donations are needed on or before August 9.

Children's Dental Care

If you can't get down to Largo today for free dental care for your children, consider visiting the Pasco County Health Department.  The Dental Clinic, located in building A at 10841 Little Road in New Port Richey, offers dental services to children ages 1-20 on Medicaid.  The Dental Clinic also accepts uninsured children ages 1-17 on a sliding scale fee basis.

Services available include:
Exams & X-Rays
Cleaning
Fillings
Sealants
Preventive Care

The clinic is open from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.  To make an appointment or for more information, call (727) 861-5260, ext. 284 or visit their website.

School Supplies

It's that time again - time for Back to School Shopping! If you, like so many others, are wondering how you are going to afford your child's school supplies, perhaps one of the following events can help!

Back 2 School Festival
Saturday, August 1
10 a.m. - 12 Noon
Alice Hall
38116 Fifth Ave.
Zephyrhills, FL
This event is sponsored by HIS Storehouse Outreach & Thrift Center and will offer free backpacks and school supplies, free food, carnival games for kids and a coupon for a $5 kid's haircut at Artistic Hair. Donations of school supplies and backpacks are still being accepted, and can be dropped off at the Thrift Center at 35362 State Road 54 during business hours (10-5 weekdays or 10-2 Saturday).

Joining Hands Kids Camp
August 3 - August 7
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Joining Hands Community Mission
3214 U.S. Hwy 19
Holiday, FL
A weeklong day camp for children whose families are experiencing homelessness or financial hardship. Campers will receive a healthy breakfast, lunch and snack and will experience many fun crafts and activities. At the end of the week, each camper will receive a new pair of shoes and a back-to-school backpack filled with school supplies. Call (727) 937-3268 for more information.

School Supply Giveaway
Saturday, August 8
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Victory Apostolic Church
102 Lake Hobbs Rd.
Lutz, FL
Free backpacks and school supplies will be provided. Call (813) 949-9001 for more information.

Backpack Giveaway
Saturday, August 8
Life Point Christian Church
6219 River Rd.
New Port Richey, FL
Free backpack giveaway. Call (727) 849-1251 for more information, to register, or if you would like to donate a backpack.

Back-to-School Sunday
Sunday, August 23
8:10 a.m., 9:45 a.m., and 11:20 a.m.
Calvary Chapel Worship Center
6825 Trouble Creek Rd.
New Port Richey, FL
Attend any one of the three church services on this date and you could receive a free backpack. Online pre-registration is required. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. Pre-registration does not guarantee you will receive a backpack, however there will also be free haircuts, games, prizes, ice cream sundaes and more.