Bremerton Backpack Brigade

The Bremerton Backpack Brigade fills backpacks with healthy food to feed hungry kids on the weekends. Many kids in our area depend on free and reduced lunch programs. Weekends can be a challenge for kids and families experiencing food insecurity. The number of children we support has surged. Weekly, we pack an average of 250 food backpacks, catering to over 600 children and providing more than 1,000 meals for hungry children over weekends. 

Our community is the driving force behind the Brigade's impactful work. In Kitsap County, one in five children under 18 faces food insecurity, and addressing this issue is essential as chronic hunger adversely affects a child's mental and physical health.

We are a 100% volunteer run organization. Volunteers generously contribute over 200 hours of their time each month, and the Bremerton School District generously provides rent/utility-free space for our operations center and pantry. The Brigade operates without paid salaries, and partner grocery stores, including Fred Meyer and Grocery Outlet, host food drives for the Brigade.

Through surveys, we've discovered that the supplemental food support provided by the Brigade not only tackles hunger but also significantly reduces the stress associated with food availability for the families we serve. Teachers have observed improvements in school attendance, behavior, and grades when consistent nutrition addresses food insecurity. The Brigade extends its services to children from diverse family backgrounds, including those with two parents, a single parent, grandparents, court-appointed guardians, or foster parents. The families we assist reside in various conditions, from homes to unhoused situations like shelters, cars, or tents. Many of these families work multiple minimum-wage jobs and still struggle to meet their basic needs.

YOUR donations make this possible. When you donate, 84 cents of every donated dollar goes directly towards purchasing food for hungry children.

The Bremerton Backpack Brigade's work is a collective community effort. The support received during events like the Great Give, as well as year-round contributions, is the heartbeat of our organization and makes our work possible. Your contributions of time, talent, and financial support empower the Brigade to continue providing essential food support for families in need.  

Thank you for making a genuine difference through your generous donations!