Christmas Backpacks
Enjoy this inspiring story of Stephen’s Backpacks Society, which began with a dream from a five-year-old boy with his own challenges of autism, who wanted to help homeless children and families. Since 2006, after making 15 backpacks on the kitchen floor, the society has helped over 100,000 children in need with backpack gifts. It has provided 40 families with new beginnings, by providing completely furnished, personalized and warm homes.
Stephen has become a voice for homeless children, and his dream has grown into a vision of change, supported by corporate sponsors, small businesses, dedicated volunteers, and foundations.
These backpacks include warm winter hats, mitts, blankets, socks, hygiene items, an age-appropriate gift and of course a stuffie!
There are many homelessness challenges in Calgary, with over 3,100 individuals identified as homeless in the city, and more than 1,500 youth using emergency shelters each year. In Alberta, over 150,000 children live below the province’s low-income threshold, with Indigenous and visible minorities disproportionately affected.
Stephen’s Backpacks Society is focused on expanding its operations from offering backpacks to changing the lives of families and children, by helping them transition from shelters or streets to stable homes with equipped with essential resources, education, and support systems. Our society encourages community involvement, with hundreds of schools and corporations participating in building Christmas backpacks, fostering empathy and social responsibility among students. The society is passionate about creating change and hopes to continue making a difference one season at a time.
