The San Lorenzo Ruiz Catholic Elementary School community features students Nicholas and Victoria alongside Vice-Principal Rick Gavin in a moment captured at the school.
Blessings in a Backpack: Fighting hunger by supplying food-packed backpacks to children every weekend.
Across Canada, many families struggle with food insecurity, and Blessings in a Backpack is a registered charity working to change that by providing backpacks filled with nutritious items for weekend meals. This simple approach helps children who might otherwise go without food on Saturdays and Sundays, allowing them to return to school recharged and ready to learn.
The program operates on a simple, reliable schedule. Each Friday, a donated backpack loaded with wholesome foods is given to participating students to take home for the weekend. On Monday, the same backpack returns to school, ready to be refilled for the next Friday. The extra meals help students power through homework, and the energy boost keeps them engaged in class. As a result, attendance improves, behavior stabilizes, and overall well-being rises, with fewer sick days reported among participating students.
The Canadian launch happened in March 2009, backed by a broad network of supporters that included the program’s U.S. founder and several public figures who joined the effort to spread the idea and access to food for children in need.
Since then, Blessings in a Backpack has grown thanks to generous sponsors and partners who understand the mission and contribute time, money, or in-kind support. Their ongoing compassion and action turn good intentions into real, measurable results for students who count on the program for a dependable weekend meal source.
A number of events have helped raise awareness and funds for the program, making a tangible difference in communities.
• Corporate bands from Ogilvy Renault, Royal Bank of Canada and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment organized a fundraiser at Tattoo Rock Parlour.
• A fundraising garage sale was organized by performers and supported by Pace Construction, bringing in generous donations.
• Community supporters documented the collaboration with local artists and performers who joined fundraising efforts.
Community collaborations are highlighted by the program in various partnerships and public initiatives that amplify its reach and impact.
• Heritage Orthodontics donated backpacks and opened their offices to accept public donations of backpacks.
• The Heritage Orthodontics team serves as a visible example of community involvement and donation points within the network.
• University of Toronto Bookstores offer donor coupons and encourage donations of clean, gently used backpacks, supporting the program with additional incentives.
• The program also benefits from the involvement of labor leaders and unions who contribute backpacks and help raise awareness through their networks.
• A robust community drive shows how volunteers and families coordinate collection efforts and distribute backpacks to schools in need.
A community organizer led a very successful Backpack Raiser, and the donated backpacks were quickly delivered to a school and put into use, illustrating how local leadership can accelerate the reach of this program.
How was the Backpack Raiser organized? The initiative sprang from the recognized need for more backpacks during Canada’s program launch. School approval and backing from local media and public figures helped spread the word. Donor incentives included posters and bookmarks that encouraged participation, and the effort gathered enough backpacks to support a whole school. The momentum continued with ongoing awareness activities and partnerships that aim to raise even more backpacks for the program.
Are there plans for expansion? At present, six schools participate (five in the Greater Toronto Area and one in Sault Ste. Marie), serving about 600 students. The near-term plan includes adding another school in Toronto and one outside the city, with a broader objective to extend the program across Canada wherever there is a need.
How can you help?
1. Organize a Backpack Raiser to collect backpacks and raise funds for the program.
2. Donate a new or clean, gently used backpack. In the Toronto area, drop-off points include local university bookstores and partner offices that welcome public donations.
• University of Toronto Bookstores – St. George, Mississauga and Scarborough locations.
• Heritage Orthodontics serves as a donation hub, with partner offices accepting contributions.
3. Donate money. Sponsors provide discounted food, making weekend meals affordable for about $100 per child for a school year, and every donation goes directly to the program.