CLAY COUNTY – If you didn’t get a chance to pick up a free backpack filled with school supplies last week – and more than 3,000 of you did – don’t worry. You’ll have several major events this weekend to prepare for Thursday’s first day of school.

Free events are scheduled for the Orange Park Mall (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.), Middleburg Civic Association (9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.), Faith Presbyterian Church in Melrose (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.), The Spring Church in Orange Park (9 a.m. to noon), Fleming Island United Methodist Church (9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.), O2B Kids on Fleming Island (9 a.m. to noon) and Clay County Ministerial Alliance in Orange Park (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) on Saturday, and the Middleburg/Clay Hill Library on Monday (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

The Orange Park Mall’s back-to-school event will feature Dillard’s Back-to-School Fashion Show. It also includes a backpack giveaway at 11:30 p.m. Items for the backpacks were donated at Achieve Fitness, All Star Elite, Clay Chamber, Courtyard by Marriott Orange Park, Compass Health, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Green Cove Springs City Hall, Haven Hospice, Keystone Heights City Hall, Laugh World Kids Boutique and South State Bank.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office coordinated with the Clay Education Foundation to collect back-to-school supplies that the Middleburg Civic Association will distribute from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2102 Palmetto St.

The agency collected items last month at its main headquarters in Green Cove Springs, substations in Middleburg and Orange Park and the Keystone Heights City Hall.

The event includes school supplies, school and sports physicals and eye exams.

The event at The Springs Church will be at 900 Park Ave. Challenge Enterprises, Clay County Fire Rescue Paramedicine, Emmanuel Project, Impact Clay and Seeds of Love will join Spring Church to provide a hot meal, a food pantry and medical and hygiene supplies.