Operation Backpack®
VOA-GNY’s signature community service campaign
Equipping children living in NYC homeless shelters with the school supplies they need.
At a time when 1 in 7 NYC public school students is homeless, VOA-GNY’s Operation Backpack® is a crucial tool in the fight to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. Homelessness can significantly disrupt a child’s education, which can have a devastating impact on their future.
Providing backpacks and school supplies to children experiencing homelessness through Operation Backpack® goes a long way toward setting them up for success in the classroom and beyond.
Visit our FAQ page for any questions you may have!
How to get involved
You can help
Your support is critical as the cost of school supplies increases. Backpacks and school supplies now cost an average of $120 per child, which is an expense that most families living in shelter cannot afford.
Help us end homelessness in our community
Our vision is to end homelessness in Greater New York. With your support, change is possible.