Operation Homefront “Back-to-School Brigade” Provides Over 29,000

Backpacks Filled with School Supplies for Military Kids

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS -- Operation Homefront announced that its Back-to-School Brigade program raised over $2 million in school supplies nationwide through a partnership with Dollar Tree. Through the generosity of individual and corporate contributors including BMI Defense Systems, Inc., Operation Homefront provided 29,000 backpacks to fill with school supplies for children of military service members. Items donated by Dollar Tree customers and others included spiral notebooks, pens, pencils, markers, crayons, notebook paper, rulers, colored pencils, calculators, and erasers.

This program saves military families a major education expense, especially for those experiencing financial hardships, and contributions to the program allowed Operation Homefront to shatter last year’s record of almost 19,000 backpacks distributed – making 2010’s distribution a 55 percent increase.

“Dollar Tree is pleased to be part of a program that helps military families save money and make back-to-school time a little easier,” said Chelle Davis, Spokesperson for Dollar Tree. “We are committed to making a positive contribution in the communities across the country where Dollar Tree stores operate, and assisting the families of the men and women in uniform is an important part of that outreach.”

“School supplies are important—and expensive for families, especially in these tough economic times,” says Jim Knotts, CEO of Operation Homefront. “We’re proud to help military families who sacrifice so much in service to our country, and we’re grateful to Dollar Tree customers and to the many other donors who made the Back-to-School Brigade a record-breaking success.

“With a 191 percent increase last year in requests for food assistance, we know our military families are struggling to meet the most basic of needs.” Knotts continued. “Each child’s backpack and supplies is valued at $35.00. If we can help families with school supplies, they can use that money for other basic needs like food.”