Newport Beach families with students at Newport Harbor High, Corona del Mar High, or Ensign Intermediate can pick up free backpacks, shoes, school supplies, and skateboards at the district's annual Back to School Kickoff Expo on Saturday, August 1.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District is hosting the event from 9 a.m. to noon at IKEA, 1475 S. Coast Drive, Costa Mesa, in partnership with the Melinda Hoag Smith Center for Healthy Living and IKEA. The expo is open to all currently enrolled NMUSD students who have a student ID number, including those at Costa Mesa schools.

Pre-registration required

Families need to submit one application per household, available in English, Spanish, and Russian through the district website. No registration deadline has been published as of the July 8 announcement on the Newport Harbor High School news page.

What's available

The district is providing backpacks, shoes, school supplies, skateboards and helmets, haircuts, food, hygiene items, and healthcare services at no cost.

Last year's turnout

The expo drew more than 2,000 community members on Saturday, August 2, 2025, supported by more than 60 community partners, according to a district recap. The Crossing Church provided nearly 2,000 pairs of shoes, Revival Hair Outreach brought more than 30 local hairstylists and barbers for free haircuts, and Families Together of Orange County Health Center and Share Ourselves' mobile clinics offered health and dental screenings.

Partners and volunteers

The Melinda Hoag Smith Center for Healthy Living, a Newport Beach nonprofit offering health and family services at 307 Placentia Ave., is one of the expo's core partners alongside IKEA. The district is also seeking volunteers and donors for the 2026 event through a sign-up form on its website.

Christy Flores, NMUSD's director of engagement, partnership, and expanded learning, said after last year's event that the expo "ensures every student starts the school year ready to learn, thrive, and pursue their goals with confidence."

How to participate

Families can pre-register on the NMUSD website. One application covers all students in a household. The expo runs Saturday, August 1, from 9 a.m. to noon at IKEA, 1475 S. Coast Drive, Costa Mesa.