By Operation Homefront
OGDEN, KS — Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization, hosted an event this week to ensure military kids can put their best foot forward in the new school year.
On Wednesday, July 9, the organization delivered 400 backpacks filled with essential school supplies to military children (Fort Riley) as part of Operation Homefront’s annual Back-to-School Brigade®. The event was held at the Ogden Community Center.
The Back-to-School Brigade distributes thousands of backpacks to military children across the country, easing the financial burden of the season for their parents and fostering a sense of community and excitement for students as they head back to class.
School shopping season is stressful for any parent, but for military families, it often comes right on the heels of a major move. These families are relocating while juggling deployment or training schedules and trying to help their children adjust to yet another new school. On average, military kids change schools 6–9 times between kindergarten and graduation. The Back-to-School Brigade program is about more than just pencils and notebooks, but about easing financial stress, helping children feel confident, and building a sense of belonging and community, even when everything else feels unfamiliar.
Since 2008, Operation Homefront’s Back-to-School Brigade has provided nearly 600,000 backpacks to military children, saving families more than $60 million in back-to-school expenses.
About Operation Homefront
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, 83 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