Jacqueline is a resilient Indigenous mom who goes above and beyond to ensure her son gets enough to eat. Backpack Buddies doesn’t just provide meals that help ease financial stress in an ever-increasingly expensive city—it helps provide more options for her son and eases the after-school hunger rush.
“Merrek started receiving Backpack Buddies around Christmas 2023. It’s been a piece of the puzzle, alongside our own resilience and community support, helping us through challenges. It gives Merrek snacks he loves and fruits we can take on the go. It’s a relief. My son gets hangry and he can shut down.”
With food costs at an all-time high, as a single mom Jacqueline faces challenges managing their food budget and expenses. “When I looked at my bank statement, I’m like, ‘this is really tough.’ And I never want to not be able to feed my kid.”
Receiving support through organizations like Backpack Buddies helps provide a much-needed relief from the financial strain for families like Jacqueline’s. Her son Merrick has been receiving food bags from Backpack Buddies since last Christmas and Jacqueline has noticed how big of an impact it has made in both his and her life, as she resiliently continues to work to provide for her son.
“Being a single parent, it’s tough. Backpack Buddies helps ease that burden. It gives me peace of mind knowing there are resources we can rely on.”
