--- title: "Planting the Seeds of Hope: The Heart Of Back to School Jamfest" description: Fort Lauderdale’s Back 2 School Jamfest unites grassroots groups to provide groceries, supplies and support to families facing food insecurity author: Dr Marina Nani (Editor-in-Chief) date: 2025-09-16T12:32:15.000Z updated: 2026-02-26T22:05:37.550Z canonical: https://richwoman.co/article/planting-the-seeds-of-hope-the-heart-of-back-to-school-jamfest image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/atlyki9ipee.jpg categories: Philanthropic Minds content_type: News region: Florida publication: Rich Woman Magazine about: - type: Person name: Jessica Williams --- The morning mist still clings to the grass at Oswald Park when the first families arrive, some pushing prams, others with children clutching empty bags. By 9am, the car park fills with vehicles carrying parents who know that [food insecurity affects thousands](https://richwoman.co/article/how-summer-meal-programmes-step-up-to-tackle-childhood-hunger-in-2025) of Florida families. Three hours later, a different energy takes over as children race towards rows of colourful backpacks, their excited chatter mixing with the buzz of hair clippers and bounce house laughter. The split-day approach isn’t accidental. It’s the careful orchestration of women who understand that families need different things at different moments – and that some parents prefer collecting essentials without their children watching, whilst others want to share in the joy of choosing a new school bag together. ## The Women Making It Happen Jessica Williams has been watching Fort Lauderdale families navigate back-to-school preparation for years through her work at [SouthPromo.com](https://www.southpromo.com/back2schooljamfest), which has 15 years of experience supporting community organisations across South Florida. Saturday marks the sixth year she’s helped coordinate what started as a neighbourhood effort and has grown into an event serving more than 1,300 families in a single day. ‘We started the Back 2 School Jamfest as a way to uplift our community with real support, not just celebration,’ Williams explains. ‘Every backpack, every meal and every smile are a seed we’re planting for a stronger future.’ She’s joined by a coalition that reads like a who’s who of grassroots Fort Lauderdale: Blooming Beautees, Bottom Up Foundation, Siaise Durocher Foundation, Tax Me Corp, First Class Promotions and Devon Dukes. Each brings different expertise, but they share a common thread – they’re embedded in the community they’re serving, not outsiders parachuting in with solutions. ## Why Free Groceries And School Supplies Matter More than 2.3 million Floridians live in [food-insecure households](https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FY1473), with 22 counties exceeding the national average food insecurity rate of 15 per cent. Broward County, where Fort Lauderdale sits, is among those struggling with this challenge. Meanwhile, back-to-school expenses have families feeling stretched. [Families expect to spend about $620](https://www.news4jax.com/money/2025/07/14/72-of-parents-surveyed-say-theyre-cutting-expenses-picking-up-extra-shifts-to-cover-school-supply-costs/) per student on school supplies this year, with 72 per cent of parents cutting expenses or working extra shifts to cover costs. Even with Florida’s extended back-to-school sales tax holiday running through August, many families still can’t stretch their budgets to cover everything their children need. The Jamfest addresses both pressures head-on. Farm Share FL provides fresh groceries and essentials to more than 500 families during the morning distribution. Later, over 800 fully stocked backpacks go home with children and teens, along with free haircuts that save families another expense before the school year begins. Whilst specific family testimonials from this year’s event aren’t yet available, the consistent growth from a neighbourhood gathering to an event serving over 1,300 families suggests parents are finding real value. The split-day format seems particularly thoughtful – allowing parents to [collect groceries privately](https://richwoman.co/article/sweet-summer-meal-why-free-meals-matter-for-west-covina-families-and-child-wellbeing) in the morning, then bringing children back for the celebratory afternoon portion with entertainment, games and that all-important backpack selection. The afternoon portion recognises something important about childhood: the excitement of choosing your own backpack, getting a fresh haircut and feeling ready for a new school year. These aren’t just practical necessities – they’re confidence builders that help children feel prepared rather than anxious about going back to school. ## Building Community Through Collaboration What makes this event work isn’t just the free stuff – it’s the web of [connections between local organisations](https://richwoman.co/article/home-and-happy-faces-how-community-family-fun-day-makes-buying-a-home-less-scary), city government and community members. Commissioner Pamela Beasley-Pittman brings city backing to the initiative, extending her ongoing commitment to [youth and family programs](https://www.fortlauderdale.gov/government/city-commission/commissioner-pamela-beasley-pittman) including the F.L.A.S.H. Program that provides after-school activities. Each partner organisation brings something different to the table. SouthPromo.com handles coordination and marketing, whilst Farm Share FL manages the massive food distribution logistics. Other partners contribute funding, volunteers, entertainment and the countless details that turn good intentions into a successful community event. The event has grown from its humble beginnings to become what organisers describe as ‘one of South Florida’s most anticipated community giveback events,’ suggesting families are spreading the word to neighbours and friends. Like other successful [grassroots community efforts](https://richwoman.co/article/how-a-glass-of-lemonade-brings-hope-the-people-behind-boyd-homes-community-fundraiser), word travels fast when something actually helps. ## Meeting Needs Families Don’t Always Voice There’s something particularly effective about offering services that families need but might hesitate to ask for directly. Free haircuts, for instance, address an expense that many parents quietly stress about – wanting their children to feel confident on the first day of school but not having money for salon visits after buying uniforms and supplies. The food distribution operates similarly. Rather than requiring applications or means testing, it simply provides groceries to anyone who shows up. Removing barriers and dignity concerns that sometimes prevent families from seeking help through traditional channels makes a real difference. The collaboration between different organisations also means no single group bears the full responsibility or cost. [Commissioner Beasley-Pittman’s focus](https://thewestsidegazette.com/advocacy-in-motion-commissioner-pamela-beasley-pittman/) on underserved urban areas aligns perfectly with the grassroots approach of the organising groups, creating a partnership with both community connections and official support. ## More Than Backpacks And Haircuts As families leave Oswald Park on Saturday afternoon, children will carry more than new backpacks. They’ll have experienced a community that notices them, organisations that invest in their success and adults who believe their education matters enough to spend a Saturday making sure they’re ready. For parents, the day offers both practical relief and social connection. Collecting groceries in the morning addresses immediate needs, whilst the afternoon celebration provides a chance to connect with neighbours and see their children excited about going back to school rather than worried about being prepared. The success of this sixth annual event suggests that Fort Lauderdale has found something that works – not just for filling backpacks, but for building the kind of community where families support each other through both grassroots organising and thoughtful collaboration with local government. As Williams notes, they’re planting seeds for a stronger future, one backpack and one family at a time.