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Impact

Feeding BC’s Most Vulnerable Kids

Every week, we feed over over 6,800 hungry kids across our province.

We feed thousands of kids a week

With a growing network of schools and distribution partners across BC, Backpack Buddies gets bags of food into the hands of over 6,800 kids every Friday. This means many will no longer wonder where their next meal is coming from.

6,800

kids reached every week

486

distribution site

83

communities

209,000

backpacks filled/ bags delivered in 2025

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OUR GOAL: By 2029, reach 11,000 children most impacted by hunger in communities where need is greatest, ensuring they have access to consistent, reliable food through weekends and school breaks.

DATA TRACKING: We carefully track every delivery through our logistics system, so we know how many children receive food each week and how many meals are reaching families across BC.

Supporting Remote Communities

GOING THE DISTANCE FOR KIDS

Reaching children in remote communities across BC takes flexibility, strong relationships, and a deep understanding of local realities.

We work closely with Indigenous communities and local partners to get food to kids in ways that make sense for each community — whether that means shipping food to be packed locally, organizing pick-up times, or supporting home delivery through local volunteers. We’ve even called on local helicopters to help get food to children in hard-to-reach areas, especially during emergencies like floods and wildfires.

    As we grow, reaching children in remote communities where food insecurity is wide-spread is a priority — because every child, no matter where they live, should be able to count on food.

    Impact You Can Count On

    This is what parents and teachers are saying about the difference Backpack Buddies makes in their families and communities every week.

    • “It can be really hard to ask for help. But Backpack Buddies is discrete and respectful. You just go in and pick it up. No questions asked. As a single mother, that support means everything when times are tough. ”

      Bertie

      Vancouver

    • “Backpack Buddies is essential to so many families. Many kids are facing tough challenges behind closed doors at home. They need extra food to get them through the week or the month.”

      Lori

      North Vancouver

    • “It’s a big relief that the bags come right home with them. It removes the barriers I have faced in trying to get to the Food Bank and lining up for food handouts. For me, Backpack Buddies provides consistent, reliable support that our family can count on.”

      Frieda

      Vancouver

    • “On Fridays at École Gabrielle-Roy, the bags of food are dropped off at reception. Our school counselor takes them to her office and the children come to collect them at the end of the day. We want it to be as anonymous and confidential as possible. I’ve heard from the parents. They are very happy to have food for their children.”

      Claude Martin

      Principal at École Gabrielle-Roy

    Your Support Changes Lives

    When you give to Backpack Buddies, you make a long-lasting difference for hungry kids and their families. Get to know some of our families and learn what food on Fridays means to them.

    View All Stories

    • Jacqueline & Merrek’s Story

      Jacqueline is a resilient Indigenous mom who goes above and beyond to ensure her son gets enough to eat. Backpack Buddies doesn’t just provide meals that help ease financial stress in an ever-increasingly expensive city—it helps provide more options for her son and eases the after-school hunger rush.

      Keep Reading

    • Krissy’s Story

      Life hasn’t been easy for Krissy, a resilient Indigenous woman. Growing up with food insecurity, she often went hungry with her sister while their parents were away. She also struggled with addiction from an early age and experienced homelessness at 18, while pregnant. These early experiences left a lasting impact, instilling in Krissy a deep…

      Keep Reading

    Where We Work

    Feeding hungry kids across BC requires a strong network of partnerships with schools. Teachers, administrators, and social workers advise us on the needs of their students and discreetly identify the children at their schools who could benefit most from receiving a bag of food for the weekend.

    Read our 2024/25 Community Impact Report

    We are fuelled by a compassionate, generous community of donors who support us in reaching BC’s most vulnerable children. Every year, we publish a Community Impact Report, prioritizing financial transparency and giving our donors a clear picture of the impact they’re making in the lives of kids.

    Read the Report

    Make a Difference Today

    Feed Hungry Kids

    Join us as a donor. Pack bags as a volunteer. Get your company connected. Whatever you do, when you get involved with Backpack Buddies, you will be putting hope back on the table for hungry kids across BC.

    Get Involved

    There are lots of ways to get involved with Backpack Buddies. Join us and explore how you can make a difference in the lives of hungry kids in your own community and across BC.

    Get Started

    Donate to Backpack Buddies

    Give today and provide hungry kids with meals and snacks for the weekend.

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