(Save the date: RealShare New York comes to the Grand Hyatt, New York, NY, October 9.)

NEW YORK CITY-Many companies in the commercial real estate industry give back to local organizations and RXR Realty based here is no exception. The company recently donated the use of its Midtown space to Volunteers of America’s Operation Backpack such that the charity had a place to host its annual drive to collect brand-new backpacks and school supplies. Among the attendees were RXR executives (pictured here) who helped out with the effort.

Operation Backpack provides children staying in New York City’s homeless shelters with the necessary items for them to start the school in the fall. For the second year in a row, the Midtown office property has served as a headquarters for all deliveries, sorting, packing and distribution of the grade specific school supplies. As an example of the project’s scale, last year 8,000 backpacks were gathered and sent to 100 shelters citywide.

Of the effort, William Elder, RXR Realty’s executive vice president and managing director, New York City, said in the same statement: “Being able to provide the space once again for the Volunteers of America to assemble thousands of backpacks for so many deserving children is a real privilege.”