Montclair’s Kimya Nilsen is excited to be coordinating her 5th year of Montclair’s Operation Backpack. Operation Backpack, organized by the Volunteers of America, benefits the 20,000+ children living in homeless and domestic violence shelters in NYC and Northern NJ.
This year, the Montclair Community Operation Backpack is also partnering with The Junior League of Montclair-Newark, Inc. to distribute backpacks to foster care children in NJ.
Nilsen says volunteers are looking to exceed the 200 filled backpacks and $3,750 raised last year, doubling the number to 400 backpacks!
To that end, there are more backpack drop off locations than ever throughout Essex County:
YMCA of Montclair Park Street Branch – 25 Park Street, Montclair
YMCA of Montclair Geyer Branch – 159 Glenridge Avenue, Montclair
[NEW] Bloomfield Public Library – 90 Broad Street, Bloomfield
Cornerstone Montclair – 198 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair
[NEW] Cedar Grove Library – One Municipal Plaza,, Cedar Grove
[NEW] Dana Library @ Rutgers University – 185 University Avenue, Newark, NJ
[NEW] West Caldwell Library – 30 Clinton Road, West Caldwell
People can find details and packing list on Facebook page @MontclairCommunityOperationBackpack.
How to Participate in Operation Backpack:
- 1. Choose a packing list here
- 2. Shop for a backpack and fill it with supplies on the list
- 3. Drop your filled backpack with label from packing list inside at either branch of the Montclair YMCA, Cornerstone Montclair, Cedar Grove Library or West Caldwell Library by Friday, August 2nd.
- 4. No time to shop? Give money directly to Operation Backpack to purchase supplies on your behalf. Donate here
Backpacks and supplies go to children in Northern New Jersey and New York City living in homeless/ domestic violence shelters and in foster care.