All photos and press release submitted by Operation Homefront.
OGDEN, KS- As families across the country begin back-to-school shopping earlier than ever, many military families are facing the season with limited financial reserves. To help ease that burden, national nonprofit Operation Homefront provided 260 local military children with free backpacks filled with school supplies at its annual Back-to-School Brigade® event in Ogden this Wednesday.
According to the Military Family Advisory Network, one in three military-connected families has $500 or less in emergency savings. For some, back-to-school expenses often coincide with permanent change of station (PCS) moves, leaving them to prepare for a new school year while recovering financially from summer relocations, navigating spouse employment disruptions, and adjusting to new communities and schools.
Operation Homefront's Back-to-School Brigade helps ease the burden by providing military children with backpacks filled with essential school supplies, helping them start the school year prepared and confident. The event also brings military families together, fostering connections and creating a sense of community as they begin a new school year.
This year, Operation Homefront expects to serve more than 18,000 military children nationwide through the Back-to-School Brigade.
Since launching the program in 2008, Operation Homefront has distributed more than 630,000 backpacks to military children, saving military families more than $60 million in back-to-school expenses.
The Back-to-School Brigade is made possible through the generous support of Southern New Hampshire University, Dollar Tree, Food Lion, Goosehead Insurance, Hilton Grand Vacations, Northrop Grumman, RTX, and Town House® Crackers. Local sponsors include BP Products, Evergy, Navy Federal Credit Union, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, and United Through Reading.
About Operation Homefront: Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military and veteran families by improving their financial, emotional and social well-being. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, 85 percent of Operation Homefront expenditures go directly to programs that support tens of thousands of military families each year. Operation Homefront provides critical financial assistance, transitional and permanent housing, and family support services to prevent short-term needs from turning into chronic, long-term struggles. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the support from thousands of volunteers, Operation Homefront proudly serves America’s military families. For more information, visit OperationHomefront.org.