• ECC News

Volunteer Recap: HarperCollins & Operation Backpack | November 28, 2016

by Elizabeth Lynch (HarperCollins Children's Books)

Working in children’s publishing, we are all lucky to be able to make an impact on the lives of young readers through the books we publish—but it can be great to have a chance to contribute in a more hands-on way, as well. Back in August, dozens of volunteers from HarperCollins Children’s Books spent the day packing backpacks with school supplies through an organization called Operation Backpack, and we loved every second of it!

Each summer, just in time for the back-to-school season, the organization collects donations of school supplies for kindergarteners through high schoolers, and facilitates volunteer efforts to get new backpacks packed up and delivered to kids in need across the city. This year, Harper volunteers were tasked with a few different jobs, from filling backpacks to quality-controlling donations. For those of us who used to wait all year to experience the satisfaction of brand new school supplies (and let’s face it, that’s the vast majority of us publishing folks), the hours at Operation Backpack flew by in a flurry of color-coding folders and carefully selecting the best pencils.

Knowing that thousands of students in New York will return to school with everything they need to succeed—plus a stylish place to store their books!—is the best possible news to a community like ours. HarperCollins volunteers with the program every summer, and it’s always a fun and productive way to spend an August morning. If you’re interested in working with or donating to Operation Backpack, you can find more info here.