While there's still plenty of summer left, Operation Backpack is already at work trying to make sure no child starts school empty handed.
The group "Volunteers of America" says there are 23,000 kids living in homeless and domestic violence shelters thoughout the city, and that its goal is to give each of them a new, full backpack.
They're asking the public for a wide range of items like notebooks, scientific calculators and colored pencils, but they say it's best to donate cash.
Organizers say getting school supplies before classes start has a huge impact on a child's education.
"On day one, even if a teacher has the resources to, or digs into his or her own pocket and supplies a child with school supplies, that teacher has identified a child in need. That child's classmates have also identified that he or she is in need. So from day one, they're stigmatized. Everyone knows that this is a kid who doesn't have anything. So we want them to walk into school proud, happy, with their new backpack," said Rachel Weinstein of Volunteers of America.
For school supply lists and drop-off locations, visit operationbackpacknyc.org.
The last day to give is August 5.