Not all children have backpacks and classroom supplies as they head back to school. To help change that, UC Davis Health employees take part in the annual Operation Backpack Drive organized by Volunteers of America.

The effort provides thousands of backpacks, supplies and support to children who are unhoused, at-risk or living in foster care in the Sacramento and Reno areas. Youth from preschool through high school are included.

This summer, UC Davis Health staff donated more than 900 backpacks — a notable jump from last year’s 560. 

“It takes a village,” said inpatient unit director Marlene Armstead Ambler, co-organizer of the drive at UC Davis Health. “I love when people come together for a good cause.”

Armstead and her co-organizer Lisa Eller, nurse manager, cherish the annual tradition. They enjoy shopping for school supplies with donations. They also host parties to pack the backpacks with supplies such as pencils, scissors, markers and notebooks.

“I hope everyone who supported us throughout the experience knows how much we appreciate them and that none of this would be possible without their generosity. It’s such a beautiful and heartwarming UC Davis Health community effort,” Eller said.

Project resonates with employees

The drive really hit home with some employees. Patient Support Services Supervisor Sean Barney will never forget the first time he brought home an Operation Backpack flier several years ago.

Barney recalled, “My fiancé grew up in a lower-income family, living off government assistance and food stamps, and was often displaced. When I came home with the pamphlet for the backpack drive, I placed it on the counter and walked away. I returned moments later to find her gripping the paper in tears.”

Perplexed, he asked her, “What’s wrong?”

His fiancé smiled and explained that one of her fondest memories as a child was receiving a new backpack yearly through a community drive like Operation Backpack.

Barney added: “Her exact words were, ‘It was better than Christmas, I felt like a normal kid.’ And so, from that moment on, we’ve been eagerly invested in Operation Backpack. She looks forward to paying it forward each year, providing a child with a similar positive memory and experience.”

Brenda Bowden, a communications specialist for UC Davis Health, also has fond memories of Operation Backpack through the lens of a former foster parent. She recalled the impact it had on the children her family was caring for about 20 years ago, who were invited to take part in Operation Backpack.

“It’s hard to capture just how significant this program is for these children. For many, receiving a backpack filled with school supplies isn’t just about having pencils and crayons; it’s about feeling a sense of normalcy and pride and building confidence. These simple items can make a huge difference in how they view themselves in the classroom.”

UC Davis Health has participated in Operation Backpack for 15 years.

“The generosity of our UC Davis Health teams deeply humbles me,” Bowden said. “It’s heartening to see how we come together to make a real difference in the lives of these children.”

A team effort

Volunteers of America sent more than 4,500 students back to school this year with the supplies they needed due to efforts like the one at UC Davis Health.

Victoria Monroe, development officer with Volunteers of America, expressed heartfelt appreciation.

“Thousands of students in our Sacramento region face the reality of not having the necessary supplies to start the new school year due to homelessness, poverty, and foster care,” she said. “But amazing volunteers — like those from UC Davis Health — ensure each one of these students start the school year off on the right foot with a brand-new backpack filled with supplies, and the confidence that they are strong and can succeed. Thank you for living your ‘Believe in Better’ values."