The national Beyond Backpacks initiative made its official launch in Alberta by distributing 1,000 backpacks filled with grade-specific school supplies and hygiene items to low-income, newcomer, and vulnerable families, including children with disabilities.

The Beyond Backpacks program is a national back-to-school initiative in Canada run by Humaniti that provides vulnerable families, including single-parent and Indigenous households, with new, high-quality backpacks, grade-specific school supplies, hygiene kits, and care packages to ensure children return to school with dignity and confidence. Humaniti is a grassroots Canadian not-for-profit organization providing relief and development services to global citizens.

As one in five children in Alberta and Calgary lives in poverty, this community initiative is helping families who may struggle to afford school supplies by helping children start the school year with backpacks, pens, pencils, and other essentials. Organizers said the program is more than just giving out backpacks, it is about reducing financial stress, supporting families, and reminding children that their community cares about them and believes in their future.

Source: Stephen Hunt, CTV News