Project Backpack: Kids Helping Kids
A Relief Effort for the Children of Katrina

HolidayEffort? - Join Holiday Gift Letters effort!

This part of the website is built by you.  This is an open creation website (also known as open source or wiki), which allows you to add to, edit and comment on all of these pages.  Please add your comments by clicking "Page Discussion" on the left side and then click "Discuss projectbackpack" at the top to add a comment.  You can also click "Edit Page" to add/edit the page as needed.   A huge reason for the grassroots success of Project Backpack is that no one person is in charge - we are all in charge. Just get it done.

Stories of Project Backpack - This is a developing book of 50+ pages, written by all of us, of all aspects of Projet Backpack - enjoy and give us feedback.  It is a Word document currently - can someone turn into PDF for us?
Stories of Project Backpack - A PDF version for you...I hope you like it. I did not do any editing nor did I move anything around. But hopefully it is a bit easier on the eyes. (August 20, 2006)

Stories from Community Efforts - This is a few web pages, not a document file, to see some of the stories of community efforts for Project Backpack around the country, so far from Steve Kantor in DC of how it all started, Terra in NY, Stephanie in OR - feel free to add your own.

Feedback from Project Backpack recipients - thank-yous and stories from people who got the backpacks

Pictures of three sisters who started effort

Signup for Volunteer Email List - please do this first - this is just for 2-3 times a week email updates on efforts

Help needed - from Steve the dad of the girls - if you want to help beyond a backpack or two, please pick a few items from this constantly updated list and help get them done for the project.  Thank you!

What to pack, and not to pack - Backpack contents and suggestions

Getting the word out

Drop off locations - DC Metro Area dropoffs - VA location for third wave in October 2005

Organize your community to collect backpacks - how to launch an effort for your community/city

National Team Managers - community efforts and dropoffs in other cities/states

Small collections of under 500 backpacks - please add your location and information here so we can tell you where to mail them or deliver them

Teachers and Schools - How you can help  -  write letters from students to kids of Katrina to enclose in backpacks, get ideas and lesson plan for teachers.

Who is in charge here - Coordinators of the project and volunteers - as of 10/10/2005

Photos, press stories, media links click here

Photo Archive - From Sunday morning's first organizational meeting to local and national links.

Media and Press Clippings

Thank You - We want to thank everyone who has contributed to our efforts

Local Beneficiaries of Project Backpack

Why are you helping with this effort - add your thoughts on why you are joining this effort.

Survey Results - Why did this idea for backpacks for kids resonate with you emotionally?

Request order form to order or requests backpacks to be sent to a location - To be used by sites needing backpacks

Some of the items below are older and need editing:

Communications - overall communications and FAQs about Project Backpack
Transport to Houstonslashelsewhere? - get and review offers of truck/air transport and make decisions
Distribution to Kids - finding proper distribution channels and making sure it is done right
Worst Case Planning - brainstorm and list everything that can go wrong
Media Contacts People Have - Press info here and who to contact.
Houston Blogs on Katrina Relief - Blogs listing news, resources and volunteers services for and about Katrina evacuees
wiki stuff - the software this site runs on. News, ideas, suggestions, questions and problems.
Stephanie Yahoo Group - General info for evacuees


"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the word. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."   -Margaret Mead


* How to Wiki

This website is built by you and the hundreds of others who have joined Project Backpack. You add and edit the website - it's called a "wiki."

To add your ideas and suggestions to a page, just click 'Page Discussion' in the column on the left. What you'll see is the most recent communication and, with a yellow background, any responses to it.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the clickable "see past discussion." To really know what's going on, take the time to click all the way to the end of these pages -- which is, of course, the beginning of Project Backpack.

When you have a handle on it and you're ready to jump in, click "discussion" at the end of a question or comment to add your own comment or question. You can also start a discussion by clicking on "discuss projectbackpack" at the top of the page. Please inform yourself so you don't repeat previous queries and thereby risk getting no response.

Always sign with your name (full name if you want, but first name and a last initial is OK). Add your email address if you're comfortable with that.



safe mode