As I've said elsewhere, Backpacks For The Homeless didn't originate with me, but it did come to me through a lot of prayer, not through any outside source. To my knowledge, the first group to practice Backpacks was a girl scout troop in Cleveland, Ohio.

One thing which I've done here, which I felt led to do, was to turn the focus from simple sustenance items to items which can actually save a life in inclement weather. In cold weather, the homeless do their best to stay warm, but every year, many die of exposure.

A blanket is an obvious thing to include in a backpack, but in my opinion, the most important item to include is a tarp. The tarp, when combined with the blanket, can act as a barrier to cold, wind and rain. The person can lay the blanket out in the tarp, roll up in it and use it for protection.

I first began praying for a personal ministry in 2003. It took a while for the idea to coalesce, but I feel that this ministry was inspired by the holy spirit. When the idea first came to me, I saw in my minds eye a backpack with Scooby Doo on the back. When I went to the thrift store for the first time, looking for backpacks, the first bag I laid my hand on was that very bag.

After that, I began to publicize the outreach on television, radio and most effectively, through the internet. The parent website for backpacksforthehomeless.org is helpforhumans.org. Helpforhumans.org is a nationwide database of help resources.

Since then, I have received hundreds of emails from like minded people who have decided to take up the Backpacks cause. To my knowledge, it's now being practiced in at least ten states including Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, New York, Texas, Michigan and California.

I do accept donations for the work I've done here and every penny goes to support the outreach, the website and those who practice it.

Blessings,

Fil Manley