Community Impact Report 2021/22

From Our Founders

Hi There!

Through your support of Backpack Buddies you have put hope back on the table for thousands of families across BC this past year.

When you gave, you helped provide hungry kids with a backpack full of food every Friday to last them the weekend and beyond. It’s more than food though…it’s stability for children, less stress for their parents, and hope for entire families as they navigate some of life’s greatest challenges.

For many of these families, your donation means the difference between going hungry over the weekend, or having a full tummy.

As you read this report, our hope is that you will see through the statistics to each child, parent, and family that you have helped this year.

Thank you for putting hope on the table,

Joanne Griffiths & Emily-anne King
Co-Executive Directors & Co-Founders

Meet Jaime-Lea

When we first met Jaimi-lea and her three children, her husband, Joe, had just stopped working. He had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.

“At the time we were struggling because he couldn’t work. We were trying to figure out how to get on welfare and how to move to the city for his treatment. A little after their dad was diagnosed, my kids started coming home with bags of food. That helped beyond belief because the food from Backpack Buddies was a way to make sure the kids always had what they needed when we might not have been able to give it to them.”

The support became even more crucial when Joe passed away in the fall of 2021. As the family’s sole income earner, Joe’s passing means Jaimi-lea now depends heavily on the two bags a week from Backpack Buddies and meal support from her children’s schools to keep her family fed.

“It’s a huge weight off my shoulders,” she says. “It helps me feel secure knowing that I don’t have to worry about my kids so much. I know that the school and Backpack Buddies are going to provide regular snacks and staples, so I’m not stranded with empty cupboards.”

As Jaimi-lea courageously perseveres through her first year without Joe, she doesn’t need to worry if her three growing children will eat tomorrow.

She knows she’s not alone because of people like you.

“I want you to know that we really appreciate you – the donors,” she shared. “Without you, some of us might not be able to keep food on the table.”

Thank you for keeping food and hope on the table for families like Jaimi-lea’s.

Fighting Child Hunger with Olympian, Madison Mailey

Over the past year, we’ve added a new, Olympic Gold Medalist, to our team of champions fighting child hunger: Madison Mailey!

The Canadian superstar–most recently bringing home a gold medal at Tokyo 2020 in the Canadian Women’s Rowing Eight—is an official Backpack Buddies Ambassador.

“Childrens’ food insecurity in our own neighborhoods is heartbreaking,” Madison explains. “As an Olympian and believer in the power of human kindness, I fully support Backpack Buddies. My goals are to inspire Backpack Buddies’ kids to be confident, find passions, and help their dreams come true. I also want to inspire adults to financially support the organization and the good work they do in our communities.”

“Being an athlete forces you to see food in a different light…I started to view my body as my engine and food as my fuel. Without fueling with the right foods, and fueling at the right time, my body would not function at its highest level…Children need healthy nutrition to concentrate, learn and succeed at school and on the playground. As a Backpack Buddies Ambassador I want all kids to have the fuel they need to score that goal, and enjoy learning.”

Read more from our interview with her here and follow along with Madison’s journey here.

Meet Jeff from The Friday Club

The Friday Club is our monthly donor family. It’s a passionate, committed group of 500 people who are dedicated to alleviating child hunger in their own communities. 

Every one of these monthly donors has their own unique and compelling story about what motivates them to give monthly. Here’s what Jeff has to share about his own inspiration:

When we first met Jaimi-lea and her three children, her husband, Joe, had just stopped working. He had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.

“At the time we were struggling because he couldn’t work. We were trying to figure out how to get on welfare and how to move to the city for his treatment. A little after their dad was diagnosed, my kids started coming home with bags of food. That helped beyond belief because the food from Backpack Buddies was a way to make sure the kids always had what they needed when we might not have been able to give it to them.”

The support became even more crucial when Joe passed away in the fall of 2021. As the family’s sole income earner, Joe’s passing means Jaimi-lea now depends heavily on the two bags a week from Backpack Buddies and meal support from her children’s schools to keep her family fed.

I got a job as a messenger for a large investment firm and, over the years, have worked my way up to being a Team Lead for a large department. I have two teenage children, a lovely wife and live happily in Ladner.

“I joined Backpack Buddies as a monthly donor after I heard an ad on the radio. The kids Backpack Buddies helps remind me so much of my own experience as a kid. These are kids who are hungry all the time—and who have gotten used to that.”

— Jeff

Bring Joy Back to Friday Afternoon!

Your gift of $80 a month provides a child in your community with a bag of food EVERY Friday for the whole school year. Filled with meals and snacks, this food will last the child the weekend and beyond.