According to a study conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics, approximately 15.3 million children in the United States, or one in five, are unable to access the basic school supplies necessary for their academic activities. This challenge is even more pronounced among children from low-income families, with nearly 25.4% facing these shortages.
The lack of essential educational materials can significantly hinder a child's ability to participate fully in classroom activities, potentially leading to academic setbacks and increased dropout rates. In response to this urgent need, the YMCA of Greater Cleveland conducted a membership drive with an incentive to provide children with the necessary supplies to succeed in school.
Hundreds of schools supplies, including pencils and pens, paper, crayons, notebooks, markers and, of course, backpacks were collected. We were also delighted that the media covered our campaign with articles and broadcast coverage.
We thank everyone who contributed to our campaign. While Operation Backpack is over for this year, you can still contribute to youth development and other causes on our website.