A back-to-school supply drive at Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library branches collected 358 backpacks and 97 boxes of school supplies for children across Hamilton County, Mariemont Branch manager Mandi Beecroft announced Monday, Aug. 17.
The haul came through Operation Backpack, a partnership between CHPL and Volunteers of America now in its second year locally. Select library branches collected donations from July 6 through Aug. 10.
"Because of the generosity of our community, hundreds of local children are starting the school year with the supplies they need," Beecroft wrote in an Aug. 17 blog post announcing the final totals.
Most of the donations will stay close to home. Library staff plan to distribute 267 backpacks and 72 boxes of supplies at branch locations and back-to-school events throughout the county. Another 105 backpacks and 21 boxes will go to Volunteers of America for distribution through partners including the Boys & Girls Club.
Operation Backpack launched in New York City in 2003 to serve children in homeless shelters and has since expanded to 25 states, according to Volunteers of America. The national organization distributed 59,000 backpacks in 2025. Cincinnati is one of four active Ohio locations for the 2026 program, alongside Cleveland, Columbus and Dayton.
Beecroft's post noted that back-to-school costs average $890 per child, a figure the library cited from program materials without naming a specific survey.
Supplies still available
Families who need backpacks or school supplies can contact three library branches while inventory lasts:
- Elmwood Place Branch: (513) 369-4452
- Groesbeck Branch: (513) 369-4454
- North Central Branch: (513) 369-6068
No end date has been announced. Staff recommend calling ahead to check availability.
Coming up
No additional Operation Backpack events have been announced. Families can check CHPL branch calendars for back-to-school programming as the school year begins.
