Backpack Brigade Gets Keiki Off to Right Start in School

Every child deserves to attend school equipped with proper supplies. The volunteer extraordinaire members of The Kaua‘i Guild, affectionately known as the Guildas, make sure that happens each year.

The Guildas are the driving force of the Backpack Brigade, a program on Kaua‘i that is now being launched statewide on all islands through CFS.

The Backpack Brigade started in 2007 to fill backpacks with school supplies for keiki whose families could not otherwise afford to do so – more than 140 of them each year.

For may years, prior to each school year, CFS staff members compile a list of keiki in need of supplies, giving the Guildas their schools, grades and possibly special needs. The Guildas would go in search of the school lists (since every school and grade is different) supplied in the community’s retail stores to start their incredible shopping experiences.

Over the last few years, the Guildas have evolved their back to school support and today provide $50 Walmart and Longs (CVS) gift cards which are distributed to families so they can purchase the supplies their keiki need. The beauty of this support is it allows families to shop together, experiencing the excitement of preparing for the new school year.

If you would like to make a monetary donation to support the Kaua‘i Guildas Backpack Brigade, please use the form below. For questions or to find out how you can make a donation to support your island, please contact CFS at 808.543.8413.