Bremerton Backpack Brigade

At the Bremerton Backpack Brigade, we provide backpacks filled with healthy, kid-friendly food so kids have enough to eat over the weekend. Many of the students we serve rely on free and reduced-price meals during the school week. When Friday comes, that support disappears — and for too many families, weekends bring uncertainty.

The need in our community continues to grow. Each week, we pack an average of 325 backpacks, helping feed more than 880 kids.

In Kitsap County, 1 in 5 children under 18 experiences food insecurity. Consistent access to food makes a real difference. Teachers report improved attendance, behavior, and focus when students aren’t worried about where their next meal will come from.

We are a 100% volunteer-run organization with no paid salaries. Volunteers give more than 200 hours each month to pack and distribute food. The Bremerton School District provides space for our operations center, and local grocery partners host food drives to help keep our shelves stocked. Because of this support, 84 cents of every dollar donated goes directly toward purchasing food for children.

The families we serve represent every part of our community — working families, single parents, grandparents raising grandchildren, foster families, and families experiencing homelessness. Many are doing everything they can and still need help bridging the gap.

Support during the Kitsap Great Give and throughout the year allows us to respond to rising demand and ensure kids in our community have food over the weekend. Thank you for helping make that possible.