04:38 PM CDT on Monday, July 18, 2005

From 11 News Staff Reports

You may have fond memories of the annual trip to the store to stock up on new school supplies. But in the Houston Independent School District, many parents can't afford to buy those supplies for their children.

AP

KHOU is proud to be part of a new effort to help children in need get ready to go back to school. We're teaming up with the YMCA for Operation Backpack.

It's the city's largest ever school supply drive.

Now through august 18, you can drop off backpacks and school supplies at our studios at 1945 Allen Parkway, near downtown Houston. They're also being accepted at area YMCAs and participating churches.

For a list of the YMCAs nearest you, click here: YMCA Web site.

Organizers hope to collect more than 25,000 backpacks which will be distributed to more than thirty Houston area school districts.