Helping America's most vulnerable.

Operation Backpack Homepage

Operation Backpack Homepage

MAKE AN ONLINE DONATION NOW - CLICK HERE

Get Involved for 2018, helping is as easy as 1-2-3!

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    GIVE ONLINE

    Donate individually in any amount or use our simple online tools to create a Fundraising Team for your office, club or group.

    Give Now
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    SHOP & DROP

    Fill a Pack you purchase with Grade specific school supplies and Drop them off at a location near you including all Kids Care Dental & Orthodontics centers and most Jamba Juice locations.

    Shopping Lists & Info
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    START A TEAM DRIVE

    Hold a team "drive" at your company, group, club, or just with your friends. It can be a collection drive for backpacks and supplies OR simply an online "cash" donation drive.

    Start a team


EVERY CHILD SHOULD START THEIR SCHOOL YEAR WITH A NEW FILLED BACKPACK!

Having a Backpack Helps Kids in Need Succeed!

Watch on Youtube

Having a Backpack Helps Kids in Need Succeed!


our 2018 partners include:

SUTTER HEALTH
KIDS CARE DENTAL & ORTHODONTICS
~ Jackson Properties ~ Maximus Foundation ~Maximus Inc ~ Jamba Juice
~ CBS 13, CW 31 & Good Day Sacramento
~ Reno Media Group ~ Marquee Media

Our Drop-Off Locations are:

Sutter Health

Kids Care Dental & Orthodontics

Jamba Juice

Quick Quack Car Wash

Dickson Realty

Bizarre Guitar

Caliber Salons

Legal Match Reno

Reyes Remax

KW Group One

Geodis

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

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.