Operation Backpack is Back!

One of the most devastating consequences of homelessness is the impact it has on a child’s education. There are nearly 23,000 school-age children living in New York City homeless shelters on any given day. Most of these children will go back to school in September without the basic school supplies they need unless we help.

Operation Backpack is Volunteers of America – Greater New York’s annual back-to-school drive that asks the general public to bring backpacks to designated drop locations throughout the city. The business community participates by becoming Operation Backpack sponsors and engaging their employees in backpack and school supply drives. Each backpack is filled with grade specific supplies. In addition to giving the children a sense of confidence and hope, Operation Backpack relieves the children’s families of a significant financial burden and helps them to look like all the other children who are beginning the school year with a brand new backpack.

In 2013, Operation Backpack provided new, filled backpacks to more than 16,000 children. We hope in 2014 to see that no child in a New York City shelter is left out.

Operation Backpack continues to be a huge success. The program has received needed recognition from the city and the media. It is exciting and satisfying to witness the campaign’s growth and the continued commitment from our ever-growing list of corporate sponsors.

Click the link below to check out the action and get an even better understanding of what Volunteers of America and Operation Backpack do to help kids in need.  http://www.operationbackpacknyc.org