More than 500 military children began school with new backpacks and supplies, thanks to Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit that provides emergency and financial assistance to military families.
The organization and a number of volunteers passed out backpacks filled with school supplies at two Back-to-School Brigade events July 19 and 20 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam and Schofield Barracks.
“We’re here to lend a hand to military families who deal not only with deployments and the other stresses of military life, but also the economic difficulties shared by all Americans,” stated Brittney Orton, community liaison of Operation Homefront’s Hawaii field office.
“Getting children ready to go back to school can be a costly venture, but these donated school supplies help ease the burden military families carry.”
The supplies were donated by Oahu individuals, as well as Target, Walmart Pearl City and Gentry Hawaii Homes.
All together, the gifts had an estimated value of $3,000.
