As NYC Families Face Affordability Crisis and Record Youth Homelessness, Operation Backpack® Mobilizes Support for Students in Shelter
24th annual city-wide campaign seeks donations to provide students experiencing homelessness with school supplies
NEW YORK, NY – Volunteers of America-Greater New York (VOA-GNY), an anti-poverty organization serving New Yorkers for over 130 years, is launching its 24th annual Operation Backpack® campaign. The city-wide program connects as many children living in New York City homeless shelters as possible with a new backpack and the grade-specific school supplies they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond.
Youth homelessness in New York City remains at record levels. More than 154,000—or nearly one in seven—students enrolled in New York City public schools experienced homelessness during the 2024-2025 school year. There are more students than ever at risk of the devastating consequences of homelessness as the cost of living in New York City continues to grow out of reach for many families, with a 2026 report from the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice revealing that 62% of residents do not have the resources to meet the cost of living in the city.
Access to educational resources can help break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. Having a full complement of school supplies plays a critical role in higher rates of homework completion, class participation and, ultimately, graduation. Last year’s Operation Backpack® campaign equipped every student living in shelter with a backpack and school supplies, collecting a record-breaking 23,758 backpacks for children in shelters across the five boroughs.
“In New York City, we are faced with the reality that a staggeringly high number of students spend time in the shelter system each year, and the instability this brings often causes academic performance to suffer,” said Dr. Jeffrey R. Ginsburg, President and CEO of VOA-GNY.
“While we continue to work towards reducing family homelessness in New York City through expanding pathways to housing stability, Operation Backpack® remains a critical tool to set children living in shelter up for success,” he said. “We are thrilled to kick off our 24th Operation Backpack® campaign and look forward to working alongside our partners across the five boroughs to chart a better future for the next generation of New Yorkers.”
VOA-GNY launched Operation Backpack® in 2003 as an effort to collect school supplies for the children living in its own shelters and has since grown to become the largest back-to-school drive in New York City. In the two decades since its founding, approximately 313,000 children have received backpacks and school supplies through the campaign.
To learn more and to donate, visit: https://www.voa-gny.org/operation-backpack/
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About Volunteers of America-Greater New York
Volunteers of America-Greater New York (VOA-GNY) is an anti-poverty organization with a rich 130-year history of serving its neighbors in need. The organization’s vision is fueled by its experience as a leading provider of services to families and individuals experiencing homelessness in the Greater New York area. Through 70+ programs located in New York City, Northern New Jersey, and Westchester County—including emergency shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing—VOA-GNY delivers services to more than 35,000 adults and children annually. It is also the largest provider of residential services for veterans within a coalition that has virtually ended chronic homelessness for veterans in New York City. For more information, visit www.voa-gny.org.