Support for 23rd annual city-wide campaign needed amid steep costs of backpacks and school supplies.
NEW YORK – Volunteers of America-Greater New York (VOA-GNY), an anti-poverty organization serving New Yorkers for over 125 years, is launching its 23rd 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 has remained at an all-time high. More than 146,000 — or almost one in eight — students enrolled in New York City public schools experienced homelessness during the 2023-2024 school year. Amid a 23% increase of student homelessness from the year prior, there are more students than ever at risk of the devastating consequences of homelessness on children’s education.
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 19,000 school-aged children at over 200 shelters across the five boroughs with backpacks and school supplies, matching the campaign’s record.
To further complicate back-to-school season for families living in shelter, recently implemented tariffs are set to increase the cost of school supplies. Current estimates from VOA-GNY indicate that it will cost nearly 10% more than last year to purchase the backpacks and school supplies needed for Operation Backpack®.
“For over two decades, VOA-GNY has worked tirelessly alongside supporters in the public and private sector to provide children living in the New York City shelter system with a backpack and full complement of grade-level appropriate school supplies through Operation Backpack®,” said Jeffrey Ginsburg, president and CEO of VOA-GNY.
“During this time where the city has faced persistently high levels of family homelessness, support for this campaign is critical to the future of our city’s children,” Ginsburg said. “Our organization is incredibly thankful to our partners and supporters, without whom Operation Backpack® would not be possible. We remain committed to doing all that we can to ensure children living in shelters are set up for success in the upcoming school year.”
VOA-GNY depends on its supporters for Operation Backpack® with a number of prominent companies sponsoring this year’s campaign, including Loews Corporation, Paul Hastings, SiriusXM, and The YP Foundation.
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, more than 289,000 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-Greater New York) is an anti-poverty organization with a rich 128-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 12,000 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.