Our Mission
Is to provide a unique and personalized support system for homeless and at-risk veterans struggling to reintegrate into civilian life. After being equipped with the right tools and solutions, we want Veterans of all eras to seamlessly and confidently reintegrate into society and thrive. Through our two main programs, we can effectively support and empower our Veterans, reigniting the flame to live and succeed inside of them.
Our Story
Sgt. Brett D’Alessandro returned home from a seven-month deployment in Afghanistan to what he thought was the end of a long road, and he quickly learned that an even longer road filled with struggle and confusion lay ahead.
After a challenging deployment, Brett came home and was thrown into the process of reintegrating into civilian Life. He struggled to figure out his next steps - going back to school, finding a job, or continuing with his military career. During this time, Brett was also struggling with his health - mentally and physically. His spouse, Alexa, was by his side but felt unequipped and uneducated in how to best support him through this transition. It was a chance encounter with a homeless veteran on the streets of Rhode Island that turned Brett and Alexa’s entire situation around…
While on his way to a doctor’s appointment at the Newport Naval Base in Rhode Island, Brett was driving when he saw a homeless veteran on the side of the road. That day, Brett distributed his backpack from deployment to this veteran filled with socks and warming layers. From this simple act…Backpacks For Life was born. Something resonated with Brett. It wasn’t just him or those he was deployed with or this man on the side of the road…it was MANY veterans nationwide who had to deal with the trauma of coming home and not knowing where to turn. Brett took this moment as a sign to do more and be more for his fellow servicemen and women.
Since 2014, BFL has been dedicated to serving homeless and at-risk veterans through backpack distribution and a mentorship program. The BFL team works one-on-one with veterans to help them find the right supportive services for their situation. The process is aided by countless hours of personal interaction and the physical distribution of backpacks. Backpacks represent the first line of defense, a symbol of hope, and so much more to the team at Backpacks For Life.
Backpack Distribution
For Veterans who have nothing, a backpack is their most crucial asset. It is their mobile home and in some cases even a container for their only belongings. Our backpack distribution program is More Than A Backpack. Our backpacks are a symbol of hope and reassurance that the Veterans we work with are not alone on their path, and always have a support system there for them when they need a helping hand. Backpack distribution is our gateway to reaching out to a veteran, establishing trust, and getting him or her started on a path off of the streets, out of poverty, and towards self-sufficiency. Each backpack is filled with toiletries, supplies, and resources pertaining to supportive services. Our goal is to enhance the general well-being of our homeless veterans while providing them with tools to succeed.
want to run a donation drive to help fill our backpacks?
email us for details!
Coaching & Mentorship
Since navigating through resources and programs can be challenging for our veterans and their families, we work with them one-on-one to create action plans specifically tailored to their needs. Whether in need of resume assistance, financial guidance, or just someone to speak to, veterans can find help through our mentorship program in overcoming these hardships and obstacles. We take time to focus on making the veteran feel human, appreciated and heard, and aim to bridge the gap between veterans and the resources available to them so that they can maintain stability. Through our effective intake process we are able to understand each veteran’s needs (although he or she may not be able to see them) and effectively connect him or her with the right groups and programs to fulfill those needs.