Community Donations Support Operation Backpack 2011 for New York City's Homeless Children

Brooklyn - State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn) today donated brand-new backpacks and school supplies, donated by local residents to support the Volunteers of America OPERATION BACKPACK 2011, for thousands of children living in New York City shelters.

Senator Marty Golden stated, “I thank the community for their support of Operation Backpack 2011 which will help thousands of New Yorkers be prepared for school in September. All the donations collected by my office, and throughout the City, will provide students living in homeless shelters a chance to start the new school year off right. This program helps to break down economic barriers facing children and families who want a chance at a sound education so to give them a hopeful future."

On Monday, July 25, 2011 Fed Ex will contribute an entire day of services to collect the donations and deliver them to be sorted and packed, in a commercial space generously provided by a local real estate partner. From there, the grade-specific backpacks will be distributed to children in shelters across the city in time for the start of the school year. Nearly 11,000 school-age children are living in New York City homeless shelters.

Volunteers of America’s back-to-school drive began in 1999 as a small effort to collect school supplies for the children in its shelters. In 2003 the campaign was re-branded “Operation Backpack” to reflect its ambitious, new goal: to give every child in the New York City shelter system who needs one, a new backpack filled with grade-specific school supplies.

Photo#1- Senator Golden pictured here with backpacks collected at his district office, along with his staff member, John Quaglione.