Take a look at the calendar and yes, it’s back-to-school time again, already.
If you’ve been caught flat-footed, there’s help coming in the form of the 5th Annual Operation Backpack drive-through giveaway. This year the event is scheduled for Sat, Aug. 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Swope Park.
The helpful back-to-school initiative, organized by Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw, aims to equip local students with essential supplies and resources for the upcoming school year.
The giveaway is open exclusively to KCMO residents, who will enter at 67th & Swope Parkway. Attendees can access the event via car or public transportation. As supplies are limited, distribution will occur on a first-come, first-served basis until the designated end time or while supplies last.
This year’s Operation Backpack is set to be the most comprehensive to date, offering a wide array of items and services highlighted by:
- 4,000 backpacks filled with school supplies
- 400 pairs of shoes
- Computers and internet hotspots to support digital learning
- 1,000 books to promote literacy
- Vouchers for haircuts to help students look and feel their best
- Car seats or car seat vouchers to ensure safe transportation
- Oral hygiene supplies for dental health
Beyond material goods, the event will also provide crucial health services, including school immunizations and COVID-19 vaccines. Parks-Shaw’s office says the holistic approach reflects a commitment to supporting the educational needs of students, but also their overall well-being.
Operation Backpack has partnered with numerous community organizations to expand its offerings. These partners and services include:
- Giving Hope and Help – Providing feminine hygiene items and information
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Beta Omega and Xi Tau Omega Chapters – Assisting with voter registration
- IRS – Offering tax write-off information
- Great Jobs KC – Sharing employment opportunities
- Lead to Read & Turn the Page KC – Distributing books
- Dr. Justin Garner Dentistry, LLC – Providing dental hygiene products
- Be SMART for Kids and Grandparents for Gun Safety – Offering information on secure gun storage and gun safety
- Kansas City Public Schools – Sharing school information
- Teamsters – Distributing backpacks and school supplies
- Children’s Mercy – Providing car seat vouchers
- National Congress of Black Women KC – Offering additional school supplies
- Jewish Family Services & Local 264 – Distributing Harvesters Food Boxes
- KC Neighborhoods Dept. & Connectivity for Good – Providing laptops, SIM cards, and cellphones
- Swope Health – Offering health information
- Kansas City Health Dept. – Administering vaccines and sharing health information
The event layout at Swope Park has been carefully planned to ensure smooth traffic flow. Take a look at the map and traffic flow along the 19 points of interest.
Operation Backpack
Swope Park
Enter 67th and Swope Parkway
August 3, at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Free
For more information about Operation Backpack, visit the official Kansas City government website at www.kcmo.gov.
