Recent News

Our online Christmas Backpack campaign gives our volunteers and supporters an opportunity to deliver hope and a gift to a child in need. Team build with your company or group or participate with your family and friends.

Give a unique and beautifully crafted gift! These boards are handmade by Stephen using cherry, maple and some of the rarest hardwoods such as Purple Heart, Yellow Heart, African Rosewood, Padauk and Zebra Wood.

Stephen’s Backpacks has been featured by CTV News about our work to help furnish a home for a family in need.

Who is your role model? For Nancy McPhee, it’s her mother. Growing up, McPhee recalls her mother’s involvement in the community and has to give her credit for the Stephen’s Backpacks organization.

One-year-old Duke Decker came to our warehouse to kick off our 2021 program. Duke’s family has also committed the next eighteen years on Duke’s birthday to bring gifts of hope for our Christmas program.

At twelve years of age Constable Jackson volunteered at Stephen’s Backpacks. When he grew up and became a police RCMP officer he was transferred to the northern region of Alberta where he witnessed many children going to school with no coats, boots and trying to carry their few school items in their hands in cold temperatures with no gloves.

Lexa just celebrated her 7th birthday. She has given up birthday gifts for the past three years to help Stephen by asking her friends and family to bring gifts for kids in need instead of herself!

Stephen’s Backpacks for Children in Need Society is proud to announce the appointment of Stephen McPhee as President.

We remember what it was like heading back to school with fresh scribblers, pencils and new running shoes, but some children won’t. You can help us change that.

Stephen’s Backpacks would like to thank Investra for their incredible support this past three years. They have generously donated two warehouses making it possible for our son’s passion to help over 21,000 children across Alberta, provide newly furnished homes to 25 families and provide thousands of new indoor and outdoor running shoes for children to start school.

Airdrie’s Finest Emergency Services respond to hundreds of calls in our fine city. Every day they risk their lives, save lives and rescue many victims of fire disasters. For many years now Stephen’s Backpacks has had the privilege of their fire truck coming to our July 1st BBQ where all funds go towards children in need.

Supporters lined up at our BBQ to support children in need having a new pair of running shoes to go back to school with this fall. A huge thank you to our volunteers who worked in the heat to make this dream a reality for many children.