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Lower Lab Cares is continuing their partnership with Operation Backpack® Help kids with school supplies during COVID-19

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Dear Lower Lab Families,

During these difficult times, there are many students in NYC that don’t have access to supplies and backpacks. We have assisted in past years but this year Operation Backpack is not taking physical donations. If you are still interested in donating to the amazing cause see info below on how to make a donation.

Operation Backpack® is a community service of VOA-Greater New York with the goal of ensuring that every child living in a NYC homeless or domestic violence shelter has a top-quality backpack filled with grade-specific supplies in time for the first day of school. This way, students have the supplies they need not only do their work but to enter the classroom on that all-important first day looking and feeling more like their classmates and less like a child in need.

In 2019, Operation Backpack® fulfilled every shelter request and provided backpacks to 19,000 children experiencing homelessness thanks to our Official Sponsors, corporate and other community partners, and individuals in New York City and beyond.

This year we’ve been forced to rethink Operation Backpack® due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 crisis (learn more). As we adjust to this reality, we need to raise $500,000 and purchase a large quantity of products to replace what is normally donated. This is in addition to the other extraordinary expenses VOA-Greater New York is incurring as a result of the pandemic. Please donate today to help support Operation Backpack® and all the vital work we do.

We cannot accept physical donations of school supplies this year due to COVID-19. Please make a cash donation instead or help us source backpacks.

How to Get Involved in Operation Backpack® 2020

  • DONATE. Make a gift to Operation Backpack® by visiting our fundraising page. To send a check, make it out to Volunteers of America-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
    Attn: Rachel Weinstein