Staten Island, NY – For the past four years, New York City Council Member James S. Oddo has opened his district office as a drop off location for “Operation Backpack,” the annual drive sponsored by the Volunteers of America to ensure that all schoolchildren have sufficient school supplies when they return back to school. Staten Islanders have opened their hearts and participated in this drive in droves.
Although summer is currently in full swing, back to school season will soon begin and Councilman Oddo’s office will once again be a drop location for those who wish to participate.
To participate in Operation Backpack, Staten Islanders are urged to donate a new backpack filled with school supplies and drop it off at Oddo’s office between Monday, July 26 and Friday, August 6 during normal business hours. Please be sure to attach an appropriate label specifying the grade level to the backpack. Oddo’s district office is located at 900 South Avenue, Suite 403.
Councilman Oddo, “I am continually amazed that whenever I ask Staten Islanders to donate for a good cause they respond. It doesn’t matter what it is – coats, used cell phones, backpacks and school supplies – Staten Islanders always respond. I am asking Staten Islanders to respond once again by participating in Operation Backpack. Children cannot succeed without the necessary school supplies and this drive helps the neediest of the needy succeed in school.”
Those interested in donating should simply purchase a new backpack, fill it with grade appropriate school supplies, and bring it to Councilman Oddo’s office.
Please find a list of suggested school supplies broken down by grade level below, or go to http://www.voa-gny.org/Content/Fill_A_Backpack-2113.asp to see the list of suggested supplies.
Nearly 11,000 school-age children live with their families in New York City homeless shelters. Most of these children will go back to school in September without the basic school supplies they need without help. Last year, with more than 90 community partners and hundreds of individuals participating, Operation Backpack resulted in 7,000 children with filled backpacks. This year their goal is even more ambitious: 11,000 filled backpacks.
Over the past two years Staten Islanders have dropped more than 100 filled back packs to Councilman Oddo’s office that went directly to those kids in need.
Below are the grade appropriate school supplies that should be placed in donated backpacks, along with a label indicating the grade level:
Pre-K & Kindergarten School Supplies
o Backpack*
o #2 Pencils
o Pencil Box
o Box of Crayons
o Box of Washable Markers
o Water Color Paint (set)
o Pad of Coloring Paper
o Large Pink Erasers
o Glue Sticks
o Safety Scissors
o Two-Pocket Folders
o Wide-Rule Loose-Leaf Paper
o Facial Tissues
o Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer
* A typical Pre-k/Kindergartener is 4-6 years old and needs a smaller backpack. Look for backpacks with popular characters, fun colors, and bright designs. Small backpacks tends to be about 12-14″ x 9-12″ x 5-10″.
First - Fourth Grade School Supplies
o Backpack*
o Pencil Box
o #2 Pencils
o Pens (Black Ink)
o Box of Crayons
o Box of Colored Pencils
o Box of Washable Markers
o Water Color Paint (set)
o 3-Ring Binder
o 2-Pocket Folders (3)
o Wide-Rule Loose-Leaf Paper
o Spiral Notebooks (3)
o Composition Book
o Pad of Coloring Paper
o Index Cards
o Large Pink Erasers
o Handheld Pencil Sharpener
o 5-Inch Safety Scissors
o Bottle of Glue (Elmer’s-type)
o Glue Sticks
o Book Covers (4)
o Facial Tissues
o Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer
* A typical elementary schooler is 6-10 years old and needs a smaller backpack. Look for backpacks with popular characters, fun colors, and bright designs. Small backpack tends to be about 12-14″ x 9-12″ x 5-10″.
Fifth - Eighth Grade School Supplies
o Backpack*
o Soft Pencil Case
o #2 Pencils
o Pens (Black Ink)
o Highlighters
o Box of Washable Markers
o Box of Colored Pencils
o 3-Ring Binder (2”-3”)
o Subject Dividers
o 2-Pocket Folders (5)
o Loose-leaf Paper
o Graph Paper
o Spiral Notebooks (6)
o Composition Notebook (1)
o Package of Index Cards
o Assignment Book/Weekly Planner
o Large Pink Erasers
o Pencil Sharpener
o Glue Sticks (2)
o Scissors
o Ruler (marked in inches and centimeters)
o Protractor
o Compass
o Calculator
o Book Covers (6)
* A typical middle schooler is 10-13 years old and needs a medium-sized backpack. Look for backpacks with classic colors or simple designs. A medium backpack tends to be about 16″ x 12″ x 10″.
Ninth - Twelfth Grade School Supplies
o Backpack*
o Soft Pencil Case
o #2 Pencils
o Pens in Blue, Black and Red
o Highlighters (2)
o Box of Colored Pencils
o 3-Ring Binder
o 2-Pocket Folders (6)
o Subject Dividers
o Loose-leaf Paper
o Graph Paper
o Compostion Book
o Spiral Notebooks (8)
o Package of Post-It Notes
o Package of Index Cards
o Assignment Book/Weekly Planner
o Large Pink Eraser
o Scientific Calculator
o Dictionary
o Thesaurus
o Ruler (marked in inches and centimeters)
o Mini-Stapler and Staples
o Book Covers (8)
o USB Flash Drive (Optional)
* A typical high schooler is 14-18 years old and needs a larger backpack. Look for backpacks with classic colors and sturdy builds. A large backpack tends to be about 19″ x 13″ x 10″.
Staten Island, NY – For the past four years, New York City Council Member James S. Oddo has opened his district office as a drop off location for “Operation Backpack,” the annual drive sponsored by the Volunteers of America to ensure that all schoolchildren have sufficient school supplies when they return back to school. Staten Islanders have opened their hearts and participated in this drive in droves.
Although summer is currently in full swing, back to school season will soon begin and Councilman Oddo’s office will once again be a drop location for those who wish to participate.
To participate in Operation Backpack, Staten Islanders are urged to donate a new backpack filled with school supplies and drop it off at Oddo’s office between Monday, July 26 and Friday, August 6 during normal business hours. Please be sure to attach an appropriate label specifying the grade level to the backpack. Oddo’s district office is located at 900 South Avenue, Suite 403.
Councilman Oddo, “I am continually amazed that whenever I ask Staten Islanders to donate for a good cause they respond. It doesn’t matter what it is – coats, used cell phones, backpacks and school supplies – Staten Islanders always respond. I am asking Staten Islanders to respond once again by participating in Operation Backpack. Children cannot succeed without the necessary school supplies and this drive helps the neediest of the needy succeed in school.”
Those interested in donating should simply purchase a new backpack, fill it with grade appropriate school supplies, and bring it to Councilman Oddo’s office.
Please find a list of suggested school supplies broken down by grade level below, or go to http://www.voa-gny.org/Content/Fill_A_Backpack-2113.asp to see the list of suggested supplies.
Nearly 11,000 school-age children live with their families in New York City homeless shelters. Most of these children will go back to school in September without the basic school supplies they need without help. Last year, with more than 90 community partners and hundreds of individuals participating, Operation Backpack resulted in 7,000 children with filled backpacks. This year their goal is even more ambitious: 11,000 filled backpacks.
Over the past two years Staten Islanders have dropped more than 100 filled back packs to Councilman Oddo’s office that went directly to those kids in need.
Below are the grade appropriate school supplies that should be placed in donated backpacks, along with a label indicating the grade level:
Pre-K & Kindergarten School Supplies
o Backpack*
o #2 Pencils
o Pencil Box
o Box of Crayons
o Box of Washable Markers
o Water Color Paint (set)
o Pad of Coloring Paper
o Large Pink Erasers
o Glue Sticks
o Safety Scissors
o Two-Pocket Folders
o Wide-Rule Loose-Leaf Paper
o Facial Tissues
o Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer
* A typical Pre-k/Kindergartener is 4-6 years old and needs a smaller backpack. Look for backpacks with popular characters, fun colors, and bright designs. Small backpacks tends to be about 12-14″ x 9-12″ x 5-10″.
First - Fourth Grade School Supplies
o Backpack*
o Pencil Box
o #2 Pencils
o Pens (Black Ink)
o Box of Crayons
o Box of Colored Pencils
o Box of Washable Markers
o Water Color Paint (set)
o 3-Ring Binder
o 2-Pocket Folders (3)
o Wide-Rule Loose-Leaf Paper
o Spiral Notebooks (3)
o Composition Book
o Pad of Coloring Paper
o Index Cards
o Large Pink Erasers
o Handheld Pencil Sharpener
o 5-Inch Safety Scissors
o Bottle of Glue (Elmer’s-type)
o Glue Sticks
o Book Covers (4)
o Facial Tissues
o Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer
* A typical elementary schooler is 6-10 years old and needs a smaller backpack. Look for backpacks with popular characters, fun colors, and bright designs. Small backpack tends to be about 12-14″ x 9-12″ x 5-10″.
Fifth - Eighth Grade School Supplies
o Backpack*
o Soft Pencil Case
o #2 Pencils
o Pens (Black Ink)
o Highlighters
o Box of Washable Markers
o Box of Colored Pencils
o 3-Ring Binder (2”-3”)
o Subject Dividers
o 2-Pocket Folders (5)
o Loose-leaf Paper
o Graph Paper
o Spiral Notebooks (6)
o Composition Notebook (1)
o Package of Index Cards
o Assignment Book/Weekly Planner
o Large Pink Erasers
o Pencil Sharpener
o Glue Sticks (2)
o Scissors
o Ruler (marked in inches and centimeters)
o Protractor
o Compass
o Calculator
o Book Covers (6)
* A typical middle schooler is 10-13 years old and needs a medium-sized backpack. Look for backpacks with classic colors or simple designs. A medium backpack tends to be about 16″ x 12″ x 10″.
Ninth - Twelfth Grade School Supplies
o Backpack*
o Soft Pencil Case
o #2 Pencils
o Pens in Blue, Black and Red
o Highlighters (2)
o Box of Colored Pencils
o 3-Ring Binder
o 2-Pocket Folders (6)
o Subject Dividers
o Loose-leaf Paper
o Graph Paper
o Compostion Book
o Spiral Notebooks (8)
o Package of Post-It Notes
o Package of Index Cards
o Assignment Book/Weekly Planner
o Large Pink Eraser
o Scientific Calculator
o Dictionary
o Thesaurus
o Ruler (marked in inches and centimeters)
o Mini-Stapler and Staples
o Book Covers (8)
o USB Flash Drive (Optional)
* A typical high schooler is 14-18 years old and needs a larger backpack. Look for backpacks with classic colors and sturdy builds. A large backpack tends to be about 19″ x 13″ x 10″.
