The first day of a new school year is always super exciting.
Between new classes, new responsibilities, and cool new school supplies, there is a lot to look forward to.
But for many children, new school supplies , or any school supplies at all, are a luxury that they are sometimes unable to buy.
Fortunately, there are plenty of programs that make sure that children in need are provided food, shelter, clothing, and even heroic homemade capes!
Rachel Weinstein came to learn through visiting various shelters that one of the most amazing things that children in need can be given is an education.
This is significantly easier to achieve if they have the proper supplies to succeed like pencils, notebooks, and — of course — a backpack!
Through Weinstein and many other kind companies' efforts, thousands of children have been gifted with brand-new backpacks, and the opportunity to succeed in school without anything holding them back.
Check below to learn more about their programing.
[H/T: A Plus]
For some children living in shelters, backpacks are more of a luxury than a simple school supply.
This is what Operation Backpack founder Rachel Weinstein learned while touring shelters through Volunteers of America.
When she asked around where the children's backpacks were as they headed out to go to school, she was shocked to learn that they didn't have any.
Their parents were having a difficult enough time providing their children with food and clothing, let alone the proper tools for them to feel completely prepared at school.
So Weinstein set out to create a program that would help these children succeed at school and put them on a more equal playing field with their peers in school.
This was how Operation Backpack was born.
Operation Backpack is a community-driven program that gifts backpacks to children in shelters.
When it first began, the program was able to provide about 600 used backpacks to children in need, along with a few supplies.
Today, however, they've ballooned in size and in resources, and they are hoping to supply over 20,000 brand-new backpacks filled with new supplies.
Former Trading Spaces host Paige Davis has helped Operation Backpack's growing success.
"The most productive way to end the cycle of poverty is through education, so we outfit these children with what they need to succeed for the task at school, but also to feel comfortable and accepted by their peers," she explained to A Plus.
They make their backpack deliveries as specific as possible by using the Department of Homeless Services and the Department of Education to learn about each child in need and what grade they will be entering.
They then receive the supplies from contributing companies like HarperCollins Publishers, Colgate-Palmolive, The Weeks Lerman Group, Duane Reade/Walgreens, 21st Century Fox and Randa Accesssories which donate beautiful, brand-name wares for free.
Weinstein has had a blast getting to see the children from the shelters excitedly choose out their brand-new backpacks.
She has also been lucky enough to see her hard work pay off in person while hosting a breakfast to tell different companies about the program.
At the breakfast, she met an intern at J.P. Morgan who told her that she had received a backpack through their services in high school.
The supplies motivated her to try hard, make honor roll, go to college, and eventually end up at the illustrious bank.
Though they have already seen massive success — providing over 19,000 supplied backpacks just this past year — they are hoping to be able to provide even more great school stuff through their 2016 drive.
Weinstein's efforts have made a huge impact in the New York City shelter system, by giving kids the chance to experience all the excitement, possibility, and newness that comes with the first day of a new year of school.
You can learn how to help out Operation Backpack here — and to test your knowledge of typical school supply prices, be sure to take the quiz below.
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