This fall offers an opportunity for a normal school year for the first time in two years, but close to a third of Houston students don’t have access to the supplies needed to make the new year successful.

According to the YMCA of Greater Houston, 28.8 percent of Houston students age 17 and younger live below the poverty line. With its annual YMCA Operation Backpack drive, the organization is working to ensure every student has the tools for success.

In its 17^th year and second to be held virtually, thanks to the pandemic, Operation Backpack is working to provide 30,000 students across the Greater Houston area with backpacks and school supplies as kids make the return to in-person learning.

Through August 6, you can donate to the drive online here, choosing how much money you’d like to give as well as which YMCA location you’d like it to go to. Additionally, for those of y’all who don’t look up from your phone (you know who you are), you can text “YMCABACKPACK” to 24365.  

And for the folks who’ve actually emerged from their homes, you can also donate at your local H-E-B while curbside shopping (yes, you can also donate online with H-E-B).