Stephen's Backpacks Society

                                       Dream out Loud Mom!!! 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. We have moved all of the items to our garage in Airdrie and are very excited to move to the next chapter of Stephen's Backpacks. We have assisted more families through our Project Hope with the remaining furniture. Our Stephen, who is 11 yearsof age now in his wonderful innocense believes that this just means that we make 3000 backpacks from our home again this year, so Airdrie volunteers can still help. Stephen's Backpacks is committed to making as many Christmas backpacks as we can to help children to continue on with Stephen's dream to end family homelessness. We will have our July 1st Superstore Barbeque to support Footprints and will provide  many new shoes for children to go back to school this fall. We are very grateful for all of those hundreds of volunteers and corporations who have come alongside us to keep Stephen's dream alive. Stephen believes that God has a new plan and that is all we need to know! Stephen has never lost one ounce of his passion this past six years and as he reminded me once again this week..."Just Dream out Loud Mom!"  

 

Each choice we make causes a ripple effect in our lives. When things happen to us, it is the reaction we choose that can create the difference between the sorrows of our past and the joy in our future. -Chelle Thompson

Princess Alexandra Community School in Saskatoon recieved backpacks this Christmas from Stephen's Backpacks. Now this eager school has been inspired to continue the gift of giving. "Dear Stephen, The grade 7/8 class from Princess Alexandra Community School in Saskatoon thanks you very much for the backpacks that your volunteers delivered to us.  My students were thrilled to receive the treats, stuffed animals and articles of clothing that were inside the backpacks!  We were able to watch a video about you and the great work that your organization is doing for needy people.  We were inspired!  My students asked if we could do something to help those in need in our own community.  We are about to begin a fundraising project to benefit those suffering from HIV/AIDS. Many thanks,Rob Paul on behalf of the Grade 7/8 students at Princess Alexandra Community School" We are humbled by the amazing spirit of this school. Thank you for making your corner of the world a better place!!

We have entered to win up to 50 to 100,000 dollars in the Aviva Community Fund. We can win an extra 150,000 for Project Hope, Backpacks, and Footprints. However we can’t enter the semi finals without votes. This is the last round before semifinals and our last chance to make it! Go to https://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf16115 to vote for us! All you have to do is register in order to vote daily. In each round you get 15 votes! No cost! You can vote EVERY day!! Please help us get this Community Fund so we can change even more lives!

Backpack Chat with Nancy Starbucks Coffee -Morning Coffee Delight and Doing What’s Right! We have had the honor of working with this great group this year for our Footprints campaign this summer and now with our Christmas Backpacks and Project Hope. Starbucks not only provide the best in coffee to make our days more special but their whole attitude in community spirit with the Managers, Regional Managers and Partners is exceptional! They care about the fact that children right here in our cities and province do not have their own homes, their own beds, gloves or hats to keep them warm or enough food.  Watch for the Stars at Starbucks coming soon; write your own personal message for a Stephen’s Christmas Backpack for a child in need.  Donate; give a backpack as a gift for someone special and fill out the star in their name. Light up a child’s Christmas; enjoy the best coffee ever and know you made a difference. Starbucks—Morning Coffee Delight and Doing What’s Right!! Like us on Facebook and win two tickets anywhere Westjet Flies. Follow us @stephensdream

Backpack chat with Nancy Hard to Imagine We are extremely busy getting pricing for mitts and hats and all sorts of other items needed to go in backpacks. We met with a wonderful volunteer last week who had made a whole bag of baby blankets and other special baby items. Even after helping children in need for the past  six years I still find it hard to imagine that babies are without homes and their own cribs. But it is indeed a fact! Stephen’s Backpacks would love to have your help with a donation of new Mittens and toques for children of all ages. Baby -18years.  It is far too cold for children to go with our mitts or hats now. You can Help!  Please drop them off at The Real Canadian Superstore in Airdrie starting Nov 1^st or Cornerstone Church 1227 48^th Ave in Calgary.