Backpacks for Boyle Street

What began as a simple idea shared among friends quickly blossomed into something extraordinary.

When Susan first mentioned her plan to launch a backpack project for Boyle Street Community Services, her small circle immediately rallied behind her. She reserved a table at one of her favorite vegan spots, Padmanadi Restaurant, so they could enjoy a meal together while preparing backpacks filled with essential items for Edmonton’s homeless community.

As word spread, so did the generosity. Kasim, the owner of Padmanadi, offered to host a full buffet dinner and pledged to donate all proceeds from the evening to Generously Giving Back (GGB). What started as an intimate gathering of 8 to 10 friends grew into a sold-out event with 100 guests, filling Padmanadi to capacity.

The evening was filled with warmth and surprises. Kasim delighted guests with a heartfelt singing performance, and our guest speaker, Morgan Chalfoux from Boyle Street, shared a deeply moving story of how she personally benefited from their support.

Thanks to the incredible community spirit, we were able to donate 75 fully stuffed GGB Back-Packs to Boyle Street Community Services.

Each backpack was packed with 23 gender-neutral essentials, including:

- Hygiene items: toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, deodorant, lip balm, comb, wet wipes, tissues, toilet paper, face cloth

- Warmth essentials: 2 pairs of socks, mittens/gloves, toque/hat, light blanket or throw

- Nourishment: 4 nut-free granola bars, 1 water bottle

- Packed in a new or gently used, gender-neutral backpack

On March 18th, the first round of GGB Back-Packs was distributed to those in need, bringing comfort, dignity, and care to our neighbors experiencing homelessness.

A heartfelt thank you to Padmanadi Restaurant - Kasim, Maya, Angela, and the entire staff - for hosting this beautiful event and donating $1,010 to support the project. And thank you to everyone who attended, donated, and helped us Stuff a GGB Back-Pack with love.

Leadership students from J.H. Picard Elementary School, guided by Grade 5 teacher Jenice Fukushima, were inspired by our GGB Back-Packs initiative and took action to help. Moved by the mission, they assembled backpacks specifically for high-risk youth in Edmonton, adding a powerful layer of compassion to our project.

Their efforts led to our second donation to Boyle Street Community Services, expanding the reach of this initiative and bringing essential care to even more vulnerable individuals.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Jenice Fukushima for organizing this meaningful contribution, and to Ashley from Boyle Street, who visited the school to speak with students and share firsthand insights into the impact of their generosity.

Together, we proved that a small idea, shared with compassion, can grow into a movement of hope.