Give kids the confidence they need to start the school year!
Join us for Operation Backpack®, a program that gives local area children a new backpack and school supplies to start the school year. By lending your support, you’re doing more than donating supplies, you’re giving hope to families facing tough times and showing children that their community believes in them.
Every child deserves a confident start to the school year, equipped with what they need to thrive.
Let’s come together to empower young minds and make a lasting impact, one backpack at a time. Our Giving Guide has everything you need to host your own donation drive! It includes a step-by-step guide, opportunities to get kids involved, the supply list, logos, sample social media posts to help you spread the word, and more. Just looking for the supply list? Download here.
Ready to report your donations? We’d love to say thank you for helping kids reach for the stars this year! We encourage you to fill out our reporting form here.
How to Donate
Get the List
Download the complete Supply List and go shopping for school supplies. This includes items like:
- Backpacks
- Pencils
- Notebooks
Deliver Supplies
Deliver the backpack to a drop location near you.
Find all the locations near you in the list below.
Spread the Word
Don’t forget to post a photo and share your experience with us! Use #OperationBackpack and make sure to tag @voaohin on social media.
Reporting Form
We’d love to say thank you! After you’ve dropped off donations, we encourage you to fill out our reporting form.
Drop Locations & Events
Check out drop locations and special events in your area!
Can’t make it to a drop location? Donate online to help all kids reach for the stars this school year.
Central Ohio
August 10th 12:00pm – 2:00pm
800 Yard St. Suite 325 | Columbus, OH 43212
You can drop off backpacks and school supplies at all Volunteers of America Thrift stores in the Columbus area. Check our Thrift Store Directory for hours and locations.
Indianola
3620 Indianola Avenue | Columbus, Ohio 43214
Henderson
1800 W. Henderson Road | Columbus, Ohio 43220
Gahanna
5599 N. Hamilton Road | Columbus, Ohio 43230
West Broad
5640 W. Broad Street | Columbus, Ohio 43228
Grove City
4026 McDowell Road | Grove City, Ohio 43123
Pickerington
909 Old Diley Road | Pickerington, Ohio 43147
Whitehall
3583 E. Broad Street | Columbus, OH 43213
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. | Friday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. | Sunday: 1-5 p.m.
Barnett Branch
3434 E. Livingston Ave. | Columbus, OH 43227
Canal Winchester Branch
123 Groveport Rd. | Canal Winchester, OH 43110
Driving Park Branch
1422 E. Livingston Ave. | Columbus, OH 43205
Dublin Branch
75 N. High St. | Dublin, OH 43017
Franklinton Branch
1061 W. Town St. | Columbus, OH 43222
Gahanna Branch
310 Granville St. | Gahanna, OH 43230
Hilliard Branch
4500 Hickory Chase Way | Hilliard, OH 43026
Hilltop Branch
511 S. Hague Ave. | Columbus, OH, 43204
Karl Road Branch
5590 Karl Rd. | Columbus, OH 43229
Linden Branch
2223 Cleveland Ave. | Columbus, OH 43211
Main Library
96 S. Grant Ave. | Columbus, OH 43215
Marion-Franklin Branch
2800 Lockbourne Rd. | Columbus, OH 43207
Martin Luther King Branch
1467 E. Long St. | Columbus, OH 43203
New Albany Branch
200 Market St. | New Albany, OH 43054
Northern Lights Branch
4093 Cleveland Ave. | Columbus, OH 43224
Northside Branch
1423 N. High St. | Columbus, OH 43201
Parsons Branch
1113 Parsons Ave. | Columbus, OH 43206
Reynoldsburg Branch
1402 Brice Rd., Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
Shepard Branch
850 N. Nelson Rd. | Columbus, OH 43219
South High Branch
3540 S. High St. | Columbus, OH 43207
Southeast Branch
3980 S. Hamilton Rd. | Groveport, OH 43125
Whetstone Branch
3909 N. High St. | Columbus, OH 43214
Whitehall Branch
4445 E. Broad St. | Columbus, OH 43213
Northeast Ohio
August 4 – 8 | 3pm-6pm
Locations TBD
You can drop off backpacks and school supplies at all Volunteers of America Thrift stores in the northeast Ohio area. Check our Thrift Store Directory for hours and locations.
Brunswick
1733 Pearl Road | Brunswick, Ohio 44212
Mansfield
1280 Park Avenue W | Mansfield, Ohio 44906
North Olmstead
27240 Lorain Road | North Olmsted, Ohio 44070
Willoughby
35101 Euclid Avenue | Willoughby, Ohio 44094
Cincinnati & Dayton
50 East Freedom Way | Cincinnati, OH 45202
CINCINNATI
Eastgate
4363 Eastgate Square Dr | Eastgate, OH 45245
Fairfield
7200 Dixie Highway | Fairfield, OH 45014
Fields Ertel
9591 Fields Ertel Rd | Loveland, OH 45140
Colerain
8760 Colerain Ave | Northgate, OH 45251
Western Hills
5744 Harrison Ave | Dent, OH 45248
Florence
5015 Houston Rd | Florence, KY 41042
Cold Spring
3710 Alexandria Pike | Cold Spring, KY 41076
DAYTON
Miamisburg
8245 Springboro Pike | Dayton, OH 45342
Beavercreek
2500 N. Fairfield Rd | Beavercreek, OH 45431
Visit www.chpl.org for location hours at specific locations.
Anderson Branch
7450 State Rd. | Cincinnati, OH 45230
Bond Hill Branch
1740 Langdon Farm Rd. | Cincinnati, OH 45237
Green Township Branch
6525 Bridgetown Rd. | Cincinnati, OH 45248
Harrison Branch
10398 New Haven Rd. | Harrison, OH 45030
Loveland Branch
649 Loveland Madeira Rd. | Loveland, OH 45140
Madeira Branch
7200 Miami Ave. | Cincinnati, OH 45243
Main Library (Downtown)
800 Vine St. | Cincinnati, OH 45202
Sharonville Branch
10980 Thornview Dr. | Cincinnati, OH 45241
Walnut Hills Branch
2533 Kemper Ln. | Cincinnati, OH 45206
Westwood Branch
3345 Epworth Ave. | Cincinnati, OH 45211
Indianapolis
8850 S Emerson Ave | Indianapolis, IN 46237
Thank You to Our 2026 Operation Backpack® Partners
You help Ohio & Indiana kids reach for the stars in 2026!
Stay up to date!
Your kind heart helps children thrive.
Interested in organizing an Operation Backpack® campaign for your company or community group? Stay up to date with news and events for our 2026 campaign by signing up for email communications.