This year's Operation Backpack ® campaign was a success! With your help, we distributed a total of 19,000 backpacks full of supplies to children living in New York City's homeless and domestic violence shelters, fulfilling every shelter request in time for the first day of school.

We truly couldn't do this work without the extraordinary support and generosity of our 353 corporate and other community partners , including our Official Sponsors, as well as the 2,100 volunteers who put an enormous amount of effort into sort ing, quality controlling, filling and preparing backpacks for pick up during Sort Week(s)—some of whom came back several times and always with a smile! Thank you to our generous donors from New York City and beyond who helped these children return to school feeling more confident and prepared, and less like a child in need.

Explore our photo gallery and watch our video featuring some of the children who benefited from your generosity.
It's not too early to become an Official Sponsor of Operation Backpack ® 2020. Contact Rachel Weinstein at (212) 496-4305 or by email to learn more.
Some of our key partners joined us live on NBC's TODAY Show to pack the final 500 backpacks needed for Operation Backpack ® 2019. We also had the honor of ringing The Closing Bell ® at the New York Stock Exchange.
Initiatives like Operation Backpack ® are designed to help normalize the lives of children experiencing homelessness. So, what's Halloween without costumes? Share the fun and excitement of the season with children in our shelters by holding a Halloween Heroes Costume Drive in your office to collect new children's costumes.

See all of the October volunteer opportunities for your team.
Our annual gala, A New York Winter's Eve will be held at The Plaza on December 9. It is our largest and most important fundraising event of the year. Returning guests— many Operation Backpack ® partners— look forward to it with great anticipation, from the exciting live and silent auctions to our inspiring videos. Consider sponsoring a table or purchasing tickets.

We are also looking for special auction items . In past years, items included handbags by Salvatore Ferragamo, Hugo Boss, Stella McCartney, Elie Tahari and Etro, and other items like house seats to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child with a backstage meet-and-greet as well as special experiences at Le Bernardin, 21 Club and on the field at Yankee Stadium.

Please reach out to Andrew Zibell if you're able to make a contribution.
How does being homeless impact the children who experience it? Our on-staff expert Noelle Withers, Associate Vice President of NYC Housing & Homeless Services, shares her thoughts. Read the article .
You can make a positive impact within your community. 
Consider making a donation to VOA-GNY! 

81 cents of every dollar goes directly to our programs, making a difference in the lives of our neighbors in need.