Operation Homefront gives out backpacks, supplies to hundreds of Utah military families for upcoming school year

CLEARFIELD, UT ( ABC4 ) — At Hill Field Elementary, the national nonprofit Operation Homefront distributed backpacks and school supplies to more than 300 children of military families in the area as part of the organization’s annual Back-to-School Brigade event.

The event on Wednesday, July 17, was among dozens across the U.S. where Operation Homefront is working to help tens of thousands of military children before the school year.

Valerie Cooper, a Utah mom of four who is in the Air Force, said it’s much appreciated for her family.

“We have such a large family, I have two kids that are now school-age, and this has just been a tremendous support and help for us financially,” she said.

Backpacks given to children include crayons, markers, pencils, notebooks, crayons, $15 Walmart gift cards, and other supplies they may need.

Bridgette Sanchez, program manager with Operation Homefront, told ABC4.com that summer is often a time when military families are going through a permanent change of station. As relocating can be costly, the nonprofit looks to support families with another big expense.

“It’s very important for our military families that we give back. This is an important season. Most of the time, they’re coming into a new state, they’re PCS-ing and we definitely try to take any financial stress off of them,” she said.

The latest Blue Star Families Military Family Lifestyle Survey shows that 36% of active-duty family respondents moved in the past 12 months and 60% said they’ve moved four or more times due to their service member’s orders.

In a press release, Operation Homefront wrote that this year, the organization expects to distribute its 580,000th backpack since the program began in 2008. They said this marks the organization saving military families more than $60 million in back-to-school expenses.

Visit operationhomefront.org to learn more about current events and opportunities to give back.

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