Each year the Volunteers of America give homeless children in the area school supplies through their "Operation Backpack" program. Kristy Holderager with the organization said they have three levels of backpacks to supply all ages. "Somebody can get a backpack for kindergarten, lower elementary to a middle school backpack to a high school back," said Holderager. "So, we have a backpack for each grade level."
Photo courtesy Volunteers of America Northern California & Northern Nevada
Thursday night 300 students staying in Volunteers of America Shelters received the first set of backpacks. Holderager said the students tend to be very transitional and attend multiple schools each year. "But, while they're living with Volunteers of America, they're at one school district, one school the entire year," she added. "It's the most stability they've had sometimes for years."
Leading up to the Thursday even, the group had made over 4,000 backpacks ready for distribution.