Weekley Family YMCA Gears Up For Back-To-School Drive

For the fifth consecutive year, “YMCA Operation Backpack” joins the forces of 38 YMCAs, local churches and other partners to touch the lives of tens of thousands of Houston area children and families this school year.  Thousands of school supplies will be collected for children who might otherwise go back to school unprepared.

This year, beginning July 11 through Aug. 16, YMCA Operation Backpack will collect brand-new backpacks filled with school supplies and distribute them to children in 31 Houston area school districts.  The 38 YMCA of Greater Houston facilities throughout the city, including the Weekley Family YMCA, will serve as collection sites for people to drop off backpacks and supplies. 

Last year, YMCA Operation Backpack collected more than 219,000 backpacks and supplies that impacted nearly 34,000 families. The Weekley Family YMCA collected 600 backpacks and 3474 supplies, thanks to your donations.

“With the challenging state of the economy right now, many parents just don’t have the money to buy the supplies their kids need to start the new school year,” said Brandy Perryman, Weekley Family YMCA executive director. “Operation Backpack pulls everyone together to help children in our communities.”

Each Houston-area YMCA is partnering with a local church that will also serve as a school supply collection site.  The Weekley Family YMCA is working with St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, which will be given a collection bin.  The items donated at the church will be picked up by the YMCA.  The school supplies will be distributed to children in the Houston Independent School District. Also, more than 60 parishes in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will join the YMCA Operation Backpack team by collecting backpacks and school supplies at nearly 100 sites.