Backpacks For Life

Please join us – CVAC | Citizens Veterans Advisory Committee:

On Thursday, June 4, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, we’re hosting.

Wills for Warriors
📍 American Legion Post 564, Ocean City, NJ

This special event is held in partnership with the Cape May County Surrogate’s Office and the Cape May County Bar Association.

📞 Call Hannah today at 609-463-6666 to schedule your appointment—spaces are limited!




Welcome Home Veterans Radio WIBG 1020 AM WIBG 101.3 FM

“Here rests in honored glory, an American soldier known but to God”

May we remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice today & every day 🇺🇸

103-year-old Marine Dorothy “Dottie” Dee reminds us that the strength of women veterans has always been extraordinary. 🇺🇸

Dottie enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Women’s Reserve in 1943 and recently stood beside BFL board member and fellow Marine Jamie DePaola to help share the stories of women veterans through the powerful book Unspoken Valor.

“We were ordinary women.”
“We did amazing things.”
“But when we got that title Marine, we became extraordinary.”

For too long, women veterans were overlooked. Unspoken Valor helps ensure their stories are finally heard and honored.

Backpacks For Life will be purchasing copies of the book to share with female veterans in our community, and proceeds from the book support our mission serving veterans in need.

If you are a female veteran and would like a free copy, please reach out to us!

Story inspiration and quotes courtesy of WFSB Channel 3 Eyewitness News and reporter Cierra Jordan.

Read the entire story here: https://www.roger.vet/blog/honoring-the-unspoken-valor-of-women-veterans/

We’re excited to share that ROGER is expanding beyond New Jersey! We have officially partnered with the Kyle Palmieri Foundation to bring ROGER to Long Island, marking the first step in our expansion into New York.

ROGER was built to solve a simple but critical problem: veterans shouldn’t have to struggle to find the support that already exists. With thousands of resources available — but often scattered, outdated, or difficult to navigate — ROGER brings everything into one place and helps veterans quickly find what they actually need and qualify for.

Since launch, ROGER has made a measurable impact, connecting thousands of veterans and caseworkers to hundreds of resources. Now, we’re building on that foundation to serve our Long Island veteran community.

This partnership with the Kyle Palmieri Foundation is a natural fit. Their commitment to supporting veterans and their families aligns directly with our mission, and together, we’re working to make access to care faster, easier, and more effective.

ROGER Long Island is expected to launch in Summer 2026, with plans to expand across New York State throughout 2027. Visit kylepalmieri.org/roger-new-york for more details.

Huge shoutout to UConn senior Ava Abruzzese for organizing a successful donation drive this past Saturday at the Catholic Center in support of Backpacks For Life.

With the help of UConn volunteers and the Sisters of the Poor from Enfield, nearly 1,000 essential items were collected, sorted, and packed, filling 44 backpacks for veterans in need.

At BFL, a backpack represents stability, dignity, and hope. These backpacks will be distributed to Veteran Service Organizations across Connecticut, supporting underserved veterans on their path toward self-sufficiency.

Thank you to everyone who contributed and helped make this impact possible.

Volunteers Needed!

We’re getting things organized for another year of serving veterans and could really use a few extra hands next Thursday. We’ll be cleaning out our storage unit, sorting donations, and packing backpacks.

Even a couple of hours makes a big difference!

Fairfield Self Storage
Thursday, February 26
10 AM–3 PM (come for all or part of the day)

Sign up here: https://forms.gle/n8y1fV2sX1B2Q8hK9

Hope to see you there!

Volunteers Needed!
Come help us organize supplies and pack backpacks!

Backpacks For Life is getting ready for another great year, and we would love your help.

📍 Location: Fairfield Self Storage
226 Passaic Avenue, Fairfield, NJ 07004

🗓 Thursday, February 26
⏰ 10 AM to 3 PM

Sign up and find more information here:
https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSd8KCWkpvVZYw.../viewform

Hope to see you there!

2025 was an amazing year for Backpacks For Life. We’re grateful for every moment and excited for the new adventures ahead in 2026!

Huge thank you to Paul Young and the CT Bank & Trust team!

Even though CBT has since dissolved, its leaders still come together each year for their annual Christmas dinner and this year they collected an incredible donation of items for Backpacks for Life. We’re so grateful for their continued support and commitment to helping our vets. ❤️🎒🇺🇸