Backpack Buddies Strategic Plan
2026–2029
OUR VISION:
To end the weekend hunger gap for children in British Columbia
Every Friday, thousands of children across British Columbia quietly tuck a Backpack Buddies bag of food into their backpack before heading home for the weekend.
During the school week, many children receive meals at school. With Backpack Buddies providing food for weekends and school breaks, they can count on having enough to eat all week long. This is the difference between hunger and nourishment. Between uncertainty and relief. Between struggling alone and knowing someone cares.
Backpack Buddies exists because children should never have to face the weekend hungry. This strategic plan charts the path to reaching more children, strengthening the nourishment they receive, and building the support needed to bring us closer to a future where hunger no longer exists for any child in BC.
Reaching More Children, Where the Need Is Greatest
More children need support than ever before. Families are stretched, costs are rising, and too many kids are going without. Our priority is simple: reach children most impacted by hunger in the communities where the need is greatest. By 2029, we will:
Because hunger doesn’t take breaks when school does.
Delivering Food with Care, Dignity, and Quality
Food is more than calories. It is health. It is comfort. It is dignity. As we grow, we are committed to ensuring every bag includes food that is nutritious, culturally appropriate, and shaped by the needs of the communities we serve, including through authentic partnerships with Indigenous communities. By 2029, we will:
- Source 50–75% of food through direct and culturally relevant suppliers
- Maintain 100% on-time delivery across all regions
- Listen closely to families, schools, and Indigenous partners to improve food quality year after year
Every child deserves food that feels good to receive and reflects care, respect, and belonging.
Building a Strong Foundation for the Future
To serve more children well, Backpack Buddies must remain a strong, resilient organization, ready for the future. We are investing in the people and systems that make this work possible — staff, volunteers, logistics, governance, and financial stewardship — while strengthening our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation across our culture, partnerships, and practices.
Fueling This Work Together
Ending weekend hunger will take all of us. Over the next three years, we will grow the community of supporters who make this work possible and build the committed funding needed to meet rising need. By 2029, we aim to double annual revenue to $10 million, fueling expansion across BC and reaching more children every weekend.
A Simple Promise
A child should not have to worry about food when school is closed. With your support, Backpack Buddies will continue to show up — every Friday, every weekend, every season — until hunger is no longer a reality for children in British Columbia.