NEW YORK, NY — HELP USA has launched its annual Build-A-Better Backpack Drive, a campaign dedicated to helping more than 1,500 school-aged children living in its shelters and supportive housing communities prepare for the upcoming school year.
Through a partnership with the Sydney Paige Foundation, individuals and organizations can purchase backpacks filled with grade-appropriate school supplies. Each backpack comes stocked with essential supplies, helping students arrive on the first day of school prepared and ready to learn. The backpacks are delivered directly to HELP USA and distributed to students before the start of classes in September.
“Our families are working every day to build stability and create opportunities for their children,” said Jina Park, Senior Vice President of Families with Children Services at HELP USA. “A new backpack may seem like a small thing, but it helps children start the school year feeling prepared, confident, and excited to learn. For parents, it’s one less thing to worry about and a reminder that their community is standing beside them as they work toward a brighter future.”
For families experiencing homelessness or housing instability, back-to-school expenses can place additional strain on already limited budgets. The Build-A-Better Backpack Drive helps ease that burden while ensuring students have the tools they need to participate fully in the classroom.
The Build-A-Better Backpack Drive runs throughout the summer, with backpacks distributed ahead of the start of the school year. Donate a Backpack Today.
About HELP USA
For 40 years, HELP USA has worked to ensure that everyone has a place to call home. Serving nearly 600,000 individuals and families since its founding in 1986, the organization has provided shelter for people in crisis, built affordable housing, and strengthened communities through prevention and supportive services. Today, HELP USA addresses the root causes of homelessness at more than 70 sites across New York City and the country.
