Every Student in NYC Shelters Equipped With Backpacks and School Supplies for the School Year
VOA-GNY breaks a record again — collecting 29,329 backpacks through 24th annual Operation Backpack® campaign.
As youth homelessness in New York City remains at record levels, every child living in a New York City shelter returned to the classroom with a new backpack and school supplies for a second year in a row. Most were provided through Volunteers of America-Greater New York’s 24th annual Operation Backpack® campaign, which broke a record by collecting more than 29,000 backpacks, the majority of which were filled with grade-specific school supplies by volunteers this summer.
Each year, Operation Backpack® aims to ensure as many children living in NYC shelters as possible have the school supplies they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond. These items are critical resources that play a measurable role in student success metrics including higher rates of homework completion, class participation and, ultimately, graduation. For the nearly 1 in 7 students experiencing homelessness enrolled in NYC public schools, having access to educational resouces can help break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.
“Thanks to the extraordinary generosity and commitment of our partners in the public and private sector, thousands of students experiencing homelessness walked into the first day of school with essential tools for long-term academic success,” said Dr. Jeffrey Ginsburg, President and CEO of VOA-GNY. “This incredible achievement is a reminder of what is possible when New Yorkers come together to invest in the future of our next generation.”
VOA-GNY depends on the community and key partners for Operation Backpack® each year, with a number of prominent companies backing the campaign, including Loews Corporation, Fried Frank, Earth’s Best, BNP Paribas, RXR, YP Foundation, HarperCollins Publishers, Westfield World Trade Center, The Honickman Companies, The Weeks Lerman Group and CMT Group. Others made valuable in-kind contributions, including The NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS) who provided critical logistics and distribution support this year.
Additionally, the New York City Council and City Council Speaker Julie Menin set aside $250,000 in this year’s City budget for Operation Backpack®.
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 342,000 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.