Wednesday, 8/13/25, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Detroit Zoo
8450 West 10 Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI 48067
Thanks to a partnership with the Detroit Zoo, backpack recipients will receive backpacks filled with school supplies and two complimentary Zoo tickets—one generously donated by the Detroit Zoo and the other provided by Volunteers of America Michigan.
Backpack pickup will take place outside the entrance to the Zoo (see map below), so families are not required to go inside to participate. However, the tickets are yours to use on the day of the event or any time within the rest of 2025—so you can enjoy the zoo whenever it works best for you!
We can’t wait to see you there, and a heartfelt thank you to the Detroit Zoo for making this experience possible for the kids!
Want to help us ensure every child in need has a backpack?
Purchase Supplies
Shop at Our Online Store
Purchase items from our supply list on your own and drop them off at any of our six thrift stores or the VOAMI Southfield office at 21700 Northwestern Hwy, Suite 700, Southfield, MI 48075. Drop-offs will take place July 7-18, 2025.
We partner with Roonga™ to make shopping convenient. You can purchase grade-specific supply kits or pre-filled backpacks. The items purchased through this storefront will shipped directly to us at our office in time for the first day of school.
All supplies must be dropped off at one of our 6 thrift stores, our Southfield location or mailed directly to the office.
Have a child in need of a backpack?
The response to Operation Backpack: Backpacks 4 You at the Detroit Zoo has been incredible. So many families have reached out for help that we’ve now reached the limit of what we can realistically support—and unfortunately, we must close the waitlist.
We are heartbroken we can’t help everyone, but we’re working hard to serve as many children as possible.
This program is powered by people like you. If you’d like to help us expand our reach and provide backpacks to even more children, please consider making a donation.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Valedictorian Sponsor
School Yard Sponsor
Additional thanks to:
The Molina Foundation
A heartfelt thank you to The Molina Foundation for their generous donation of thousands of books to include with our backpacks. Their support ensures that children receive not only the essential supplies they need but also a meaningful gift that reminds them someone cares.
Douglas J Salon
We’re incredibly grateful to Douglas J Salon for donating haircut vouchers to include with every backpack. Looking and feeling your best on the first day of school can make all the difference. Thanks to their generosity, hundreds of kids will step into the new year with confidence and pride.
Thank you for your backpack drives!
ACS
Actemium
Amsted Automotive
Craig Noonan & Associates
Cummins
Duggan Wealth Management
Foster Swift
GBU Financial Life
Granger Construction
Lakeshore Financial Planning
MA Center Michigan
Marquardt
Marsh
Modern Wealth Management
Mortgage Center
Niagara Cares Fund
Nissan
OP Mobility
Rockwood
Schneiderman & Sherman P.C.
Sikh Temple
TransForm Automotive
Want to learn more?
Phone: (248) 791-5105 ext. 1158 • opbk@voami.org