OAR Project Backpack | Back-to-school Children & Families Program

Run time: June – September

OAR’s Project Backpack annual back-to-school children and families program supports children and families with a parent experiencing incarceration or has been recently released from incarceration for the upcoming academic school year. This program was created to help strengthen and mend the bond that is often strained and broken as a family member experiences incarceration. OAR will be working with the residents in the local facilities as well as participants involved in our direct services programs for Project Backpack.

In the past, OAR has hosted a back-to-school drive collecting new backpacks and school supplies for children and families impacted by incarceration. The pandemic allowed us to spruce up our liberation practices and center participants more deeply. Starting in 2020 and moving forward, we are providing gift cards/e-gift cards, cash, or checks to each family involved in this program to limit the number of physical items being passed around and to allow families the autonomy to purchase what they need with the funds.

With that in mind, the goal of this program is to provide each child with a $50 gift card/e-gift card, cash, or check. This way, the families can choose to use these gift cards or funds for whatever they need. Along with each gift card, each child will also receive a letter from their parent experiencing incarceration, letting them know that the gift is coming from them and wishing them luck in the upcoming school year. Thanks to your support, we supported more than 80 children impacted by incarceration through Project Backpack each year. 

Please see more below on how to support OAR’s Project Backpack and where you can donate. Your gifts towards this program will help us purchase gift cards for each child, help with the mailing of all of the gift cards and letters, and purchasing any supplies and resources needed for this program.

HOW TO SUPPORT OAR’S PROJECT BACKPACK

  • Donate online on the OAR website on our Children and Families programs donation form here.
  • Mail a check to the OAR Post Office Box (P.O. Box 41030, Arlington, VA 22204) for Project Backpack. Please include a note that the check donation is specifically for OAR’s Project Backpack program.
  • Mail gift card donations to places like Visa, Target, Amazon, and Walmart, preferably in denominations of $50, to the OAR Post Office Box (P.O. Box 41030, Arlington, VA 22204) for Project Backpack. Please include a note that the gift cards are specifically for OAR’s Project Backpack program.
  • Host a gift card drive on OAR’s behalf! Mailed VISA gift cards have been a very popular option chosen by the families in this program (with Target and Amazon gift cards coming in second and third place for most wanted). If you are interested in hosting a gift card drive on OAR’s behalf, please contact us at reentry@oaronline.org.
  • Volunteer for Project Backpack! We are currently looking for volunteers to help us with data entry and guardian outreach phone calls, as well as local volunteers in the DMV/Arlington area to help us go out and purchase gift cards/mail gift cards. All volunteers will be reimbursed. If you are interested in volunteering for Project Backpack in any capacity, please contact us at reentry@oaronline.org.

For all questions, volunteer inquiries, and more please contact us at reentry@oaronline.org