Vancouver – The TELUS Friendly Future Foundation has donated $80,000 to help Backpack Buddies combat child hunger, delivering much needed emergency support to vulnerable families who are struggling amidst a crippling pandemic and soaring need.
“The TELUS Friendly Future Foundation has committed to providing much-needed support to help Backpack Buddies get through this health care crisis and well beyond,” says Backpack Buddies cofounder Emily-anne King. “The funding of $80,000 will have an immediate impact on BC families who are right now wondering where their next meal will come from, with impacts stretching into the foreseeable future as we adjust to life with COVID-19.”
King says the donation will contribute to both immediate and long-term needs on Vancouver Island, where Backpack Buddies provides hearty meals and snacks to sustain struggling families on a weekly basis. The grant will enable Backpack Buddies to expand its program, provide more emergency food, and support operations through warehouse space and staff. It comes at an especially critical time, as Backpack Buddies recently launched a new summer program, which provides 2000 weekly backpacks, packed with family meals, to children across BC.
“During this unprecedented public health emergency, we are especially focused on supporting our communities and enabling urgent funding where it is needed most,” said Dee Brown, Executive Director, TELUS Friendly Future Foundation. “Supporting Backpack Buddies is one way we are doing our part in helping Canadian families in the fight against COVID-19. TELUS commends Backpack Buddies for its impressive work and for taking care of vulnerable British Columbians.”
For more information on Backpack Buddies and the $80,000 grant, please visit www.backpackbuddies.ca. For more information on the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation visit www.friendlyfuture.com.
About Telus Friendly Future Foundation
Founded in 2018, the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation funds programs, services and technology for registered Canadian charities helping communities, particularly youth, who need it most. The foundation supports over 500 charitable grants annually in Canada and helps over 2 million at-risk Canadian youth every year. On March 18, the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation announced a $10 million commitment to urgently support and enhance public healthcare capacity and community response across Canada including funding to help purchase new medical technology and equipment, such as ventilators, as well as increased support for food security, outreach to isolated seniors, virtual education programs, and mental health initiatives.
