An Ever-Growing Story

Started in October 1999, Project Backpack was created solely with the mission to help children in the St. Louis area. The children served are the silent victims of domestic violence. Our organization provides emergency services by furnishing area police departments, social service agencies, domestic violence shelters and Department of Family Services workers with backpacks for children who are removed from their homes usually with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

The backpacks are age and gender appropriate and make the transition from crises situations to foster homes more tolerable. Often this is all the children will have with them for quite some time. These backpacks are filled with necessary items such as sleep tees; socks; a variety of toiletries; school supplies such as paper, crayons and pencils; games; books; and stuffed toys.

​Your Participation Counts

The children we serve are often described as sad and vulnerable by the police departments and social workers.  Our backpacks are a powerful tool to help these professionals ease the trauma as the child moves to a safe environment.  The backpack tells the child that someone cares when their whole world is crashing around them.

Project Backpack is operated entirely by volunteers and all donations are used to help the children we serve.

There is no other organization in the St. Louis area addressing children's immediate needs for emergency items such as sleepwear and toiletries during their first hours and days of transition.

With YOUR help we can work together to have an enormous impact for these young victims!