Thank you for making Operation Backpack 2009
our most successful campaign ever!
Operation Backpack officially ended July 24 with a day-long drop-off event at Cal Expo hosted by our media sponsor KCRA 3/KQCA My58. To see
photos from the event, click here. FYI: Donations
may still be made at our administration office.
Call 916.442.3691 for more information.
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The Sacramento-area community was more than generous this year – Operation Backpack 2009 exceeded its goal and has collected more than 3,000 backpacks to date. That more than doubles last year's figure and demonstrates that even in tough economic times, children in need command attention.
Latest statistics show that more than 5,000 Sacramento County school children are "homeless," with some 40,000 living in poverty.
Through Operation Backpack, Volunteers of America provides a variety of support services to homeless families and their children, including much-needed new backpacks and school supplies to help young boys and girls in need reach their full academic potential.
While Operation Backpack began as a drive to collect backpacks and school supplies for the children of Volunteers of America clients, it has since expanded to provide for youth served by many of our fellow social-service agencies, as well as school districts, throughout the Greater Sacramento area. Such beneficiaries as the Sacramento Food Bank and WIND Youth Center joined us for "Pick a Pack Day," our distribution kick-off event held July 30. See photos from that event by clicking here.
For a complete list of those agencies and school districts that are benefitting from Operation Backpack 2009, click here.
In 2008, thanks to the support of our sponsors, as well as the many caring community members who donated, contributed and held private drives, Volunteers of America provided in excess of 1,300 new, supply-filled backpacks to disadvantaged children in the Greater Sacramento area. This year, we hope to be able to provide 2,000 children with school-supply-filled backpacks. (To see photos of our 2008 distribution event, click here.)
For information on Operation Backpack, contact Kim Castaneda at 916.442.3691 or KimC@voa-sac.org.
Operation Backpack 2009 was sponsored by