More than 22,000 children live in NYC’s homeless and domestic violence shelters. One of the most devastating consequences of homelessness is the impact it has on a child’s education.
Each year since 2001, Volunteers of America-Greater New York has been distributing new backpacks filled with grade-specific school supplies to homeless children throughout New York City. A filled backpack relieves parents of a financial burden and provides a sense of normalcy to the otherwise chaotic lives of these children, helping them to look and feel more like their classmates.
Most importantly, a filled backpack allows these children to start the school year feeling prepared and confident, with the knowledge that their education is important and that someone believes in them.
The Weeks Lerman Group has been a platinum sponsor to VOA’s Operation Backpack since 2011. Our support doesn’t stop at fundraising. After all the donations are received and backpack contents are purchased, 60-70 members of the TWLG family donate their time to participate in sort week and assemble the backpacks for these children so VOA can distribute them to shelters and domestic violence safe houses all around New York before the start of the school year.
This year, Operation Backpack campaign has gotten off to a strong start, thanks to generous contributions from numerous community members, organizations, and individuals. Even stars like Kevin Bacon lent his celebrity status to help spread awareness about the campaign in a series of Public Service Announcements.
With the help of CrowdRise, an online platform for raising money for various causes, Volunteers of America has raised over $46,000 to date for Operation Backpack. If you’d like to help and donate, Weeks Lerman has created our own fundraiser to benefit the cause. Share this link and spread the word, or you can create your own fundraiser and help raise awareness and funds for so many children that desperately need our help.
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