For media inquiries, please contact Mike Lahrman at communications@operationhomefront.org or call (210) 202-1243.
350 Davis-Monthan AFB area Military Children Received Backpacks and School Supplies from Operation Homefront’s Back-to-School Brigade®
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Operation Homefront distributed 350 backpacks and necessary school supplies to pre-registered military families on Thursday, July 23, at The Warrior Zone on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson as a part of their annual Back-to-School Brigade®. BTSB is Operation Homefront’s nationwide collection of school supplies and backpacks that are distributed to the children of military families as well as to all ranks of wounded, ill, or injured veterans and their families.
The event is made possible by the generosity of Dollar Tree, SAIC, and other local donors such as Airgas and Alaska USA Federal Credit Union. During this year’s campaign, Operation Homefront will distribute its 400,000th backpack since 2008, saving military families more than $50 million in back-to-school expenses. The ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take a huge toll on military families. This year, more than ever, these deserving families will benefit from a program that helps offset finances they would normally use for school supplies and allow them to apply their funds to critical needs.
This year’s Back-to-School Brigade® event had a different look than previous years to adhere to all federal, state, and local COVID-19 guidelines. The event was delivered in a drive-through format with volunteers following CDC guidelines.
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Operation Homefront Back-to-School Brigade photo “OH BTSB JBER 1”: Operation Homefront volunteers are ready to start handing out backpacks to local military families. During this year’s campaign, Operation Homefront will distribute its 400,000th backpack since 2008, saving military families more than $50 million in back-to-school expenses.
Operation Homefront Back-to-School Brigade photo “OH BTSB JBER 2” and “OH JBER 3” and “OH JBER 6”: The 200 backpacks handed out at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is made possible by a team of great Operation Homefront Volunteers. This year’s BTSB events are contactless with volunteers adhering to federal, state, and local guidelines during the pandemic.
Operation Homefront Back-to-School Brigade photo “OH BTSB JBER 4”: Operation Homefront partners with national donors like Dollar Tree and SAIC, and local partners like Airgas and Alaska USA Federal Credit Union.
Operation Homefront Back-to-School Brigade photo “OH BTSB JBER 6”: At this year’s BTSB events, Operation Homefront offered contactless pickup of needed backpacks and school supplies. Military parents were able to drive through the event to get their children’s supplies.
Operation Homefront Back-to-School Brigade photo “OH BTSB JBER 7”: An Operation Homefront volunteer gathers supplies to insert into one of 200 backpacks that were given out to local Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson military children.
About Operation Homefront: Founded in 2002, Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive – not simply struggle to get by – in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, 92 percent of Operation Homefront expenditures go directly to programs that support tens of thousands of military families each year. Operation Homefront provides critical financial assistance, transitional and permanent housing, and family support services to prevent short-term needs from turning into chronic, long-term struggles. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the support from thousands of volunteers, Operation Homefront proudly serves America’s military families. For more information, visit OperationHomefront.org.
