Become an Official Sponsor

Each year through Operation Backpack®, VOA-GNY ensures every student living in a New York City domestic violence or homeless shelter is equipped with a new backpack and grade-specific school supplies before their first day of school.

Due to the end of the pandemic eviction moratorium, the arrival of thousands of asylum-seekers, and skyrocketing rent prices, New York is experiencing a family homelessness crisis reaching levels not seen since the Great Depression. 23,000 students experiencing homelessness will need backpacks and school supplies this year—53% more than last year.

The children living in our city's homeless shelters rely on VOA-Greater New York each new school year—and we rely on YOU to make our Operation Backpack® campaign possible. Over the past two decades, thousands of corporate and other community organizations have played a part in its success and all that we are doing to end homelessness in the Greater New York area.

In response to this year’s record level of need, we ask that you be as generous as you can—through sponsorships, in-kind donations and fundraising—to help ensure these students can thrive in school and beyond. Our city's children need your support now more than ever.

Benefits of Sponsorship

Operation Backpack® sponsors enjoy a range of benefits, including exclusive in-person volunteer opportunities, a press release announcing your support, logo placement on marketing collateral, social media acknowledgment, and more. In 2019, sponsors also joined us at the NYSE Closing Bell® ceremony and on the TODAY show.

Contact Ericia Antoine at eantoine@voa-gny.org to learn more.

Other Ways to Get Involved:

• DONATE. To make an online donation, visit the Operation Backpack® fundraising page. To send a check, make it out to VOA-Greater New York and include Operation Backpack® in the subject line. Checks can be sent to:
  
  Volunteers of America-Greater New York
  135 West 50th Street, 9th Floor
  New York, NY 10020
  
  
• FUNDRAISE. Get your friends, family and colleagues involved. Form your own fundraising team here. 

• SPREAD THE WORD. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and be sure to tag @VOAGNY and use #OperationBackpackNYC when you post about getting involved.