Photo Coverage: Paige Davis Teams with Volunteers of America for Operation Backpack 2015!
By: Genevieve Rafter Keddy Aug. 14, 2015
Volunteers of America-Greater New York (VOA-GNY) have launched OPERATION BACKPACK 2015, its annual drive to collect new backpacks filled with brand new, grade-specific school supplies for thousands of children living in New York City's homeless and domestic violence shelters. Broadway actress Paige Davis has been the spokesperson for OPERATION BACKPACK for the past ten years. This year, with family homelessness at an all-time high, the organization's goal is to outfit 20,000 New York City children with backpacks in time for the first day of the school year. For more information, visit www.OperationBackpackNYC.org.
Since it was introduced in New York City, OPERATION BACKPACK has steadily grown in response to the increasing number of families in homeless shelters. Although the campaign was started to meet the needs of the children living in Volunteers of America-Greater New York shelters, it has evolved to benefit children living in shelters run by other providers throughout New York City.
The average cost of a filled backpack is $81, an expense few families in homeless shelters can afford. Receiving a filled backpack gives these children the supplies they need to do their work, and allows them to go to school with more hope and confidence, looking and feeling more like their housed classmates and less like children in need.
Last year, with the extraordinary support from 150 companies and other community partners, VOA-GNY collected and distributed a record-breaking 18,400 backpacks to children in over 150 shelters across the city through OPERATION BACKPACK. It is anticipated that at least 160 companies and community groups will participate in this year's campaign, with many new partners signed up to support this important effort.
Each year, thousands of members of the general public also contribute to the campaign's success. This year, the public is urged to drop off a new backpack and/or school supplies at select Duane Reade and Walgreens stores in New York City from July 13th to August 7th. Details of participating stores and to print out a list or supplies for each grade can be found by visiting: www.operationbackpackNYC.org Financial support is also vital to the campaign; donations can be made at www.crowdrise.com/OperationBackpackNYC.
Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Volunteers of America Operation Backpack
Welcome to the packing center
Gerard Cunningham (Chairman, Board of Directors Volunteers of America Greater New York), Paige Davis, Rachel Weinstein (Vice President, Human Resources/Chief Complaint Officer Volunteers of America Greater New York) and Tere Pettitt (President and Chief Executive Officer Volunteers of America Greater New York)
Gerard Cunningham, Paige Davis, Rachel Weinstein and Tere Pettitt
Gerard Cunningham, Paige Davis and Mitchell Grant (RXR Realty)
Gerard Cunningham, Paige Davis and Mitchell Grant
Three area girls got to pack their own backpacks with Paige Davis
Paige Davis and the girls
Gerard Cunningham, Paige Davis and Tere Pettitt
Gerard Cunningham, Paige Davis and Tere Pettitt
The girls getting ready to head out and pack their own back to school supplies
Paige Davis helping pick out the backpacks
Getting all the supplies needed for the first day back
With their fully loaded backpacks
Paige Davis and the girls
Paige Davis and the girls
Weichert Properties New York City came to volunteer
HSBC New York City
Harper Collins New York City
One of the many stacks of packed bags
Operation Backpack
Bags loaded and ready to be delivered
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