Operation Backpack® is an annual drive hosted by Volunteers of America and its affiliates, including VOA Oregon, to collect backpacks and school supplies for our community.
Portland, Ore. — At our distribution event on Saturday, August 15, 2026, we distributed nearly 500 backpacks and tote bags filled with school supplies to VOA Oregon clients and their children, and local children and families who needed a little extra support this year getting ready for school. That is an amazing impact, and it simply would not have been possible without the time, energy, kindness, and willingness of our staff, volunteers, and donors.
This year, Operation Backpack® was so much more than backpacks. Families also received free books, Bombas socks, toys and games, and furniture — including beds, desks, and dressers. We even had a Portland Fire & Rescue fire truck on site, adding a little extra excitement for the kids and helping make the day feel like a true community celebration.
What inspired us most was seeing so many people come together around one simple goal: making sure children and families in our community felt supported as they head into a new school year.
Whether you helped welcome families, distribute backpacks, carry furniture, organize supplies, answer questions, clean up, or simply made someone feel welcome, you were an important part of making Operation Backpack® happen.
On behalf of all of us at VOA Oregon, and especially the hundreds of children and families who left with something they needed, thank you. We are incredibly grateful that you chose to spend your time with us and help make Operation Backpack® such a meaningful day for our community.