Volunteers of America Gives Confidence to Children in Need Heading Back to School

Nearly two thousand Ohio homeless and at-risk children went back to school prepared and ready to learn thanks to the generous donations provided to this year’s Operation Backpack® campaign. 

From July 21 through August 12, individuals, community and corporate groups, donated over 1,830 new backpacks and over 130 boxes of school supplies for children in need heading back to school.  Volunteers of America’s Operation Backpack® relies on this support and generosity to help children gain confidence for school and boost their self-esteem – making them just as prepared as classmates who do not have to struggle with the challenges of homelessness.

One such corporate group helped end the campaign with a bang – donating 75 backpacks and school supplies for students in 4th through 8th grade in the Greater Cincinnati area.  U.S. Bank Community Affairs began donating backpacks and school supplies to Operation Backpack® in 2012, and each year the program continues to grow.

"It is important to us at U.S. Bank to give locally in the communities we live, work and serve in.  It is especially meaningful to support Volunteers of America’s efforts in providing backpacks and school supplies to children who experience homelessness in Greater Cincinnati," said Alicia B. Townsend, Community Affairs Manager for U.S. Bank Community Affairs.

We thank everyone who was able to donate to Operation Backpack®, and we look forward to another successful year as we continue to help children in need in our communities.

Corporations and community groups are encouraged to participate in next year’s Operation Backpack®.  Campaign dates have yet to be determined.  To make online donations and for more information, please visit www.OperationBackpackGO.org.