Back to school can be a hectic time for students, parents, teachers and backpack suppliers.  

This week is assembly week for back to school backpacks being supplied by the Stephen's Backpacks Society.  About 150 volunteers are working every night this week and will wind things up on Saturday when the 25 agencies the group is working with arrive to pick up the backpacks earmarked for them.  

Executive Director of Stephen's Backpacks Nancy McPhee says the season is amazing in a lot of ways.  

"We have probably about $27,000 worth of stock here in our warehouse that we started with last night (August 22).  We have an amazing group of volunteers who are coming in and ready to go.  I just can't say enough about the growth that we're experiencing.  I feel sad in one respect that there's so much need out there, but in the other respect I just feel so blessed and humbled that we can help.  Last year we did 1,000 backpacks for back ot school and this year, easy, we're going to do 2,500."

McPhee attributes the huge increase in numbers they'll do this year to an economy which, she feels, isn't improving as much as some people think it is.

"I think with things increasing in price, I know for myself, I find my bills have really increased in terms of groceries and rent and bills people have to pay.  I think there is still a real downturn in the economy.  I can't tell you how many personal phone calls I've received at home saying, 'can you help me, one on one'.  Because we work through services I can't possibly do one on one.  There has been such an increase in phone calls.  I think people are still struggling in our community and in surrounding areas."

McPhee says the increase in the numbers of backpacks that the society does every year makes her shake her head.  She says she considers the group to be truly blessed by all the support from the community.  

"Every year we seem to keep doubling a tripling our numbers.  I'm so humbled by it, I can't put it into words.  It wouldn't be possible without the amazing corporate support we've had this year.  It takes a community.  It does make me feel really great to be able to reach out and help this many children, and of course, Stephen is just over the moon about it.  I think I just really have to say I'm humbled by how the community has come together.  It's just amazing."

McPhee says anyone who'd like to volunteer to help with the program is more than welcome.  In fact, she's specifically looking for more help on Saturday, distribution day for the backpacks.

"On Saturday if people are available, we could really use some help because that's when all the services come to pick up their backpacks and we are in a basement so we kind of have to hand bomb them up back stairs and up the front stairs so it would be wonderful if we could get a few more volunteers for Saturday.  If there's anybody looking to make some kids smile come on down to our warehouse between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm on Saturday."

The warehouse is located at 122A 17th Avenue SE in Calgary. 

Once the school backpacks are all distributed, McPhee has definite plans.  "I'm going to sleep for a week," she laughs.  "No, we're going to get ready for Christmas."

This year, the goal for Christmas is to provide 4,000 to 5,00 backpacks.  Then, McPhee laughs even harder when she says, "Who'd have thought when we adopted this eleven-day old baby boy that my life would become a backpack boot camp!"

Thousands of less fortunate kids have that baby boy, Stephen, along with Nancy and her late husband Jim to thank for making this world a better place, one backpack at a time. 

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