Operation Backpack® News

Bronx Net's George Bodarky is joined by Rachel Weinstein to talk about how VOA-Greater New York is continuing their signature community service campaign despite disruptions due to COVID-19. Watch the interview.

Jeff Simmons, host of WBAI's "City Watch," interviews Rachel Weinstein about Operation Backpack® this year and how COVID-19 has required us to pivot to a new model.

NY1 reporter Roger Clark discusses Operation Backpack® 2020, the challenges we're facing due to the pandemic, and what the community can do to help this year.

Rachel Weinstein, VP Communications & External Relations, and Didi Diallo, an Operation Backpack recipient and former VOA-Greater New York shelter resident, talk about this year's Operation Backpack® campaign on News 12.

Customers shopping at Walgreens and Duane Reade stores in the New York metropolitan area (including Long Island, Albany and Hudson Valley) and select New Jersey locations will be able to donate to Operation Backpack® 2020.

VOA-GNY and Operation Backpack® were featured on the TODAY Show on Thursday, August 29, as key partners and hosts from the show helped pack the final 500 backpacks needed to fulfill this year's requests.

VOA-GNY rings the NYSE Closing Bell to mark the 16th year of Operation Backpack®, together with Board of Directors members and key partners, including Jeff Bruneteau, Regional Vice President at Walgreen Co.

Operation Backpack® was included on a list of "6 ways to give back during back-to-school season (and all year long)" published by Insider.

"AM New York" explains how Operation Backpack® provides 20,000 full, high-quality backpacks to students experiencing homelessness across New York City with the help of community donations and volunteers.

CityLimits.org featured the story of Operation Backpack® 2019. This year 20,000 students experiencing homelessness will receive backpacks thanks to the generosity of the community.

NY1 reports on Operation Backpack® 2019 featuring an interview with Steven Banks, Commissioner of NYC's Department of Social Services. Joslyn Carter, Administrator of NYC's Department of Homeless Services, was also in attendance.

Operation Backpack® 2019 was featured on PIX11 with an interview from Tere Pettitt, VOA-GNY President & CEO.

Operation Backpack® 2019 was profiled on the FOX5 News New York Minute featuring an interview with Rachel Weinstein.

Operation Backpack® 2019 was featured on WWOR's Chasing News. Over 20,000 students experiencing homelessness in NYC will receive backpacks and supplies this coming school year.

CBS2 reports on Operation Backpack® 2019 featuring interviews with Rachel Weinstein, VOA-GNY; Paige Davis, VOA-GNY Board of Directors; and Erika Henningsen, Mean Girls Broadway.

"New York City Patch" featured Operation Backpack® 2019 on its website, including the story of how it started sixteen years ago.

Operation Backpack® 2019 is featured in the New York Post. The story shares how the initiative was started sixteen years ago and its impact on students like Bakary Diallo.

This year, our partners at the NYPD Transit Bureau are accepting new, full backpacks, empty backpacks and school supplies from the public at various locations and dates in support of the 2019 Operation Backpack® campaign. Watch the video to see coverage of the events on WABC 7, NY1, News 12: The Bronx, and Pix11.

The Operation Backpack® 2019 Kickoff Breakfast, held June 5 at The Plaza, was featured on CityLimits.org, in its CommunityWire section, which is a community bulletin board for announcements by community organizations and other not-for-profit entities around New York.

The Operation Backpack® 2019 Kickoff Breakfast, held June 5 at The Plaza, was featured on the New York City Patch website. 

WCBS highlights the importance of the annual drive, and what it means to students who are homeless across New York City.

Fox 5 New York profiles Operation Backpack® featuring interviews with VOA-GNY President and CEO Tere Pettitt and backpack recipient 11 year old Heaven.

Learn about what's new about this year's campaign, and how our partners, new and old, have responded to our call to fill 18K+ backpacks for children living in shelters.

AMNY reports on the 2018 Operation Backpack® campaign.

Listen to a radio spot featuring Operation Backpack® has been appearing on 1010 WINS.

The Yankees invited VOA-GNY staff, board members, and partners to a game and to participate in a special home plate ceremony.

The 15th annual Operation Backpack® 2018 public campaign was featured on the New York City Patch website. Read more about our drive.

Operation Backpack® supporter Kimya Nielsen was featured on local Montclair website, Baristanet.

VOA-GNY board members, partners, staff, and supporters gathered at the NASDAQ MarketSite in Times Square to help raise awareness for the annual, city-wide campaign.

Starting on July 9, share a favorite “First Day of School” photo of yourself (or a child in your life) on Twitter, Instagram, and/or Facebook using the hashtag #OBPFirstDay, and The Weeks Lerman Group will donate $2 to Operation Backpack® for every photo shared!

At this year's PromaxBDA conference, which took place in New York City, attendees were given the opportunity to participate in a community service project benefiting Operation Backpack®.

From Sunday, June 17 through Saturday, June 30, customers shopping at participating Walgreens and Duane Reade stores will be able to donate to the 2018 Operation Backpack® campaign at checkout.

News about the 2018 Operation Backpack® Kickoff Breakfast was briefly profiled on New York Nonprofit Media.

VP of Communications and External Relations and founder of Operation Backpack® speaks at 2018 Promax BDA Conference