Sponsorship Brochure -- Fill a Backpack -- Drop Locations
Give Online -- Sponsors -- Starter Kit

There are 11,000 school-age children living in the New York City homeless shelter system. One of the most devastating consequences of homelessness is the impact it has on the children’s education. Homeless children face tremendous stigmatization; as a result, they are more likely than their housed counterparts to be placed in special education classes and to drop out of school.

Operation Backpack is Volunteers of America’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.

Sponsorship Brochure -- Fill a Backpack -- Drop Locations
Give Online -- Sponsors -- Starter Kit