Our Story
Sgt. Brett D’Alessandro returned home from a seven-month deployment in Afghanistan, only to face the daunting challenge of reintegrating into civilian life. Struggling with his mental and physical health, Brett found inspiration in a chance encounter with a homeless veteran on the streets of Rhode Island. This pivotal moment led to the creation of Backpacks For Life, an organization committed to serving homeless and at-risk veterans.
Since 2014, Backpacks For Life has distributed over 11,000 backpacks filled with essential supplies across 36 states, while also mentoring more than 275 veterans. Each backpack symbolizes hope and serves as a first line of defense for those who have bravely served our country.