Harris County, Tx Youth Advocate Programs (YAP) staff members spent time during a recent staff meeting stuffing 70 backpacks for youth in their programs. The activity was sponsored by Houston-based H-E-B Tournament of Champions’ Build a Backpack program, which donated $2,500 to Harris County YAP for the effort and two other activities.

YAP was one of several YES Waiver program providers benefitting from Build a Backpack. YES Waiver providers serve youth who are at risk of being in out-of-home behavioral health treatment.  Harris County YAP’s YES Waiver services align with the national nonprofit’s model of providing neighborhood/community based services that include mentorship and family advocacy, along with in-home behavioral health services. YAP provides tools that empower youth and reinforce the family’s foundation.

Each Harris County YAP youth backpack includes a binder, folders, paper, color pencils, crayons, glue, erasers, a ruler, #2 pencils, pens, a tablet, composition notebook, earphones for computer use, stress balls and tissue.

Special thanks for the backpack materials to Houston’s Walmart Store #3640, Walmart Super Center for $500 in donated supplies and the local Olive Garden for food and drinks for the backpack stuffing activity.