STAGE TUBE: Paige Davis Introduces OPERATION BACKPACK

Volunteers of America launches Operation Backpack with its Public Drive running July 26 - August 8 (check OperationBackpackNYC.org for the entire list of official drop locations accepting donations of new backpacks). Sort week will be August 9 - 13, when all of the supplies and backpacks will be picked up and dropped off by FedEx. They will then be sorted, organized, packed and checked to be delivered to the children the following week, in time for the start of school.

Nearly 11,000 school-age children live with their families in New York City homeless shelters. Most of these children will go back to school in September without the basic school supplies they need unless we help. Last year, with more than 90 community partners and hundreds of individuals participating, Volunteers of America gave nearly 7,000 children filled backpacks through Operation Backpack. This year's goal is even more ambitious: 9,000 filled backpacks.

Volunteers of America's Operation Backpack helps the children who benefit, look and feel more like their classmates. It also relieves their parents of a financial burden and raises public awareness about the needs of homeless families and the devastating impact homelessness has on a child's education: 62% of these children score below grade level in reading; 77% below grade level in math. Because they can't invite classmates "home" to study or work on group projects, the children often isolate themselves rather than reveal their situation. Frequent relocations disrupt their education.

"Operation Backpack is one of the highlights of my year. It is truly an amazing sight to see the effort put forth by our corporate sponsors and volunteers, young and not-so-young, as they sort, stuff and check thousands of backpacks. From new pencils and crayons to protractors and calculators -- it is a joy to ensure that these young people get what they need to start the school year off right!" Paige Davis, VOA board member and Operation Backpack Spokesperson

"Operation Backpack is a true city-wide public/private partnership and I am very proud of the efforts that the Volunteers of America staff and our corporate and other community partners have made to help these children in shelters across the city. It's all about helping children living in shelters feel less stigmatized, help them feel like they belong in school and will succeed in school. But because we are still in tough economic times with looming cuts to education, Operation Backpack is even more important this year. We will do everything we can to reach our goal of 9,000 filled backpacks." Rachel Weinstein, Director of Development and Communications.
Operation Backpack partners - more than 90 this year - include Borough Presidents, City Council members, hundreds of individuals throughout the five boroughs and returning corporate sponsors Frank Crystal & Company, FedEx, Van Wagner Communications, Time Warner Cable, and Warnaco. New major sponsors include Duane Reade and Dunkin' Donuts & Baskin Robbins Community Foundation. All have teamed up to ensure thousands of homeless children will return to school in September with new, filled backpacks.

Volunteers of America's Operation Backpack started in New York in 2003 and, due to its success, the program has spread to other Volunteers of America offices throughout the country including Washington State, Oregon, California, Minnesota, Illinois, Massachusetts, Ohio, Greater Delaware Valley and Pennsylvania.

For more information regarding Volunteers of America New York please visit www.voa-gny.org
To see Volunteers of America's PSA with Paige Davis click here.

The public is urged to drop a new backpack at one of our Official Drop Locations including:
Grand Hyatt New York, Citi Habitats, Duane Reade stores, Gotham Wines & Liquors.
For a complete list of locations please visit www.OperationBackpackNYC.org

OPERATION BACKPACK was selected to compete for $250,000 in the nation-wide Pepsi Refresh Challenge for the month of July. Whichever program/idea accrues the most votes by the end of the month wins the $250,000.

You can help reach this goal by visiting the Pepsi Refresh link http://www.refresheverything.com/operationbackpack

Operation Backpack website http://www.operationbackpacknyc.org