On July 5, 2025, Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting military families, kicked off its 16th annual Back-to-School Brigade. The initiative aims to distribute school supplies, including backpacks filled with essential items like notebooks, pencils, and crayons, to children of military families across the United States. This year, the program is set to provide essential supplies to 30,000 children, marking a significant milestone as the program is on track to distribute its 550,000th backpack since its inception in 2008.
The Back-to-School Brigade initiative is especially important for military families, as they often face unique challenges. With frequent relocations, deployments, and other military-related factors, parents can experience difficulty providing school supplies, which can place a strain on household budgets. Operation Homefront’s mission is to alleviate this burden by ensuring that military children are fully prepared for the school year ahead.
Key Partnerships and Contributions
The Back-to-School Brigade® is made possible through partnerships with several key organizations, including Dollar Tree and Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). Dollar Tree has committed to helping collect and donate school supplies through its network of more than 8,000 participating stores across the nation. From July 5 to August 4, 2025, customers can donate supplies to the program at these stores, helping ensure that backpacks are filled with everything military children need.
Additionally, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) has been a proud sponsor and investor in the program, further demonstrating its ongoing commitment to military families. SNHU has supported Operation Homefront’s efforts since 2014, offering scholarships and other educational resources to military personnel and their families. This partnership ensures that the Back-to-School Brigade can reach a wide range of military families, particularly those facing financial hardships.
Supporting Military Families
In a statement, Brigadier General (Ret.) John I. Pray Jr., President and CEO of Operation Homefront, highlighted the critical nature of the initiative, saying, “Many of our military families continue to face a variety of financial hardships as they work to protect our nation and the freedoms we enjoy daily.” He added, “The Back-to-School Brigade is a symbol of our commitment to those who serve, and it ensures that military children can begin their school year with the same resources and opportunities as their peers.”
The effort goes beyond just providing school supplies. It fosters a strong sense of community support for military families and serves as a reminder that the nation stands behind those who serve. Military families often face financial instability due to deployment and frequent relocations, and programs like this help provide stability, ensuring their children are prepared for success in school.
Impact and Reach
Since its inception, the Back-to-School Brigade has reached hundreds of thousands of military children, giving them the tools they need for educational success. It is estimated that the 550,000th backpack will be given out during the 2025 campaign, a significant accomplishment for an initiative that started with the simple goal of helping military families.
As the program continues to expand, Operation Homefront is committed to reaching as many families as possible, ensuring that children of service members do not miss out on the educational opportunities they deserve. Through donations, community involvement, and corporate partnerships, the program has grown to support thousands of military families each year.
How to Get Involved
For individuals or organizations interested in contributing, there are several ways to get involved. Dollar Tree stores nationwide are accepting donations of school supplies, and people can also make direct financial contributions to Operation Homefront. Additionally, those who wish to volunteer or donate time can visit the official website for further details on how to help.
The success of the Back-to-School Brigade is a testament to the power of community collaboration, and it remains an essential program for supporting the well-being and success of military families across the nation.
