As children return to school, Operation Homefront is making school shopping easier for military families by collecting and distributing supplies through their annual ‘Back-to-School Brigade’ events across the nation. Eligible families of service members can receive free supplies including backpacks as part of the program. By collecting donations at churches, offices, stores, and schools, Operation Homefront rallies community support of the military and reminds everyone of the importance of showing appreciation to our nation’s heroes and their families by giving back.
According to Operation Homefront, since their inception and with their partnership with Dollar Tree Inc., they have distributed more than 480,000 backpacks to military children and saved military families nearly $50 million. Supporters can place supply collection bins in their workplaces or churches, collect gift cards, help distribute supplies, volunteer to pick up donated supplies, and/or make a donation to Operation Homefront’s Back-to-School-Brigade program.
Just last week, according to WPXI, around 300 military children in the Pittsburgh area of Pennsylvania received free backpacks and school supplies including tablets, crayons, and books. Deb Krall, the Pittsburgh team captain of Operation Homefront, shared that it is a blessing to be able to show the military that their community supports them. As a member of the military, who was also a single mother at one time, Krall knows first-hand how meaningful it is to have the help and support from the community, especially now as inflation continues to impact families across the country.
When communities come together to support our national heroes and their families, compassion, love, and kindness capture the hearts of all. With gratitude for the sacrifice of our service members and their families, sending their children to school with the supplies they need to have confidence entering the classroom prepared is just one way we can all say thank you.