The opportunity to choose
new backpacks full of school supplies brought smiles to the faces of dozens of Volunteers of America children at the Operation Backpack 2008 distribution kick-off event
held July 31 at Cal Expo.

Some had their eyes on "Batman" and "Speed Racer," others on Disney's "High School Musical" and "Tinkerbell." Then there were those who just couldn't decide.

For the many sponsors, donors and supporters who attended the July 31 Operation Backpack distribution kick-off, perhaps the best part of the event was seeing that  children who normally have so little, had so many wonderful choices.

Dozens of students – the sons and daughters of Volunteers of America clients – were invited to the kick-off celebration to pick out their new, school supply-filled backpacks from the more than 1,300 packs that were collected during the 2008 Operation Backpack campaign held July 11 through 25.

Volunteers of America Greater Sacramento & Northern Nevada President and CEO Leo McFarland and board chairman Steve Green welcomed representatives from sponsors Fox40 KTXL, The Sacramento River Cats, Signature Reprographics, PG&E, Save Mart Supermarkets, KGBY-My925 and Mead, and such corporate supporters as Starbucks, Washington Mutual, Macy's, 94.7 KSSJ, Mike Martin Photography and ZenCar services, many of whom stayed after the recognition ceremony to help newly arriving children pick out their backpacks.

Sponsors and volunteers, who also were handing out frozen treats and chocolate chip cookies, wore smiles almost as big as the kids', as they watched the students wade through the hundreds of backpacks to pick their favorite.

Among those assisting the kids was past Operation Backpack recipients Hoang Nguyen, now a biology student at University of California, Davis, who spoke to sponsors and supporters about the impact receiving a supply-filled backpack had on his academic career.

Also speaking was Charlene Hunt, the homeless liaison for the Folsom Cordova Unified School District, who presented another past recipient of a backpack whose life was positively affected by the program.

Volunteers of America children eagerly pick out their favorite backpack