Operation Backpack Homepage

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Get Involved for 2018, helping is as easy as A-B-C!

A) A GIFT CAN BE MADE ONLINE OR IN PERSON Donate individually in any amount or use our simple online tools to create a Fundraising Team for your office, club or group. You can also shop and Fill a Pack you purchase with Grade specific school supplies and Drop them off at a location near you. (2018 locations coming soon)

B) BE A STAR & VOLUNTEER We need Volunteers to help in the office and the community to pick-up items, collect or sort. Just contact one of our regional offices below.

C) CREATE COMPANY ENGAGEMENT Consider having your company, group, or club be a part of the campaign by becoming a sponsor, holding a collection drive, or providing specialty school supply items in bulk such as scientific calculators, art palettes or flash drives.

NO MATTER WHICH WAY YOU PARTICIPATE WE ARE HERE TO HELP! Feel free to contact us at any time and also use the "tool kit" to help promote Operation Backpack to your friends, family and co-workers!

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For individual drives please contact your Regional representative:
Bay Area: Cynthia Shane Smith, CSmith@voa-ncnn.org or (510) 325-1107
Greater Sacramento: Elyse Duenas, EDuenas@voa-ncnn.org or (916) 265-3978
Reno-Sparks, NV: Linda Grace, LGrace@voa-ncnn.org or (775) 322-7143

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PLANNING FOR 2018 IS UNDERWAY
For Corporate Sponsorship and Participation please contact:
Ana Bankert, corporate and foundation development officer
abankert@voa-ncnn.org (916) 265-3966 EVERY CHILD SHOULD START THEIR SCHOOL YEAR WITH A NEW FILLED BACKPACK!

thank you to all that made operation backpack 2017 a success, especially our sponsors

SUTTER HEALTH
KIDS CARE DENTAL & ORTHODONTICS
~Jackson Properties ~ Maximus Foundation ~Maximus Inc ~ 106.5 The End
~ Entercom Communications ~ Marquee Media~

And to our community partners that held collection drives:

Sutter Health
Kids Care Dental & Orthodontics
Jackson Properties
Maximus Foundation
106.5 The End

What is Operation Backpack?

Each year, thousands of homeless and at-risk children in our local communities return to school without the basic supplies they need.

With your help, Operation Backpack® is able to provide thousands of backpacks, grade specific school supplies, and a variety of support services to homeless, at-risk and foster children from Pre-school to High School levels throughout the Bay Area, Greater Sacramento Area, and Reno regions. Together, we are helping children learn and thrive in school, stay in school, and build a bright future.

Participate in Volunteers of America's Operation Backpack® and help children in need be prepared and excited for their first day of school!

Why do this?

Children who live in poverty or are homeless face many challenges and tremendous stigmatization – as a result, less than 25% graduate from high school. Preparing these children for school with a new backpack filled with school supplies boosts their self-esteem and gives them the tools and confidence needed to learn and thrive in school.

Where do the backpacks go?

The backpacks and school supplies we collect are used in a number of ways. All of the families and children in our programs are provided a backpack and school supplies. We also work with partner agencies and school districts to ensure as many children as possible get the tools they need to start the school year off on the right foot.