The Story of Bubba's Backpack Brigade
HRG is delighted to share with you the story of Bubba’s Backpack Brigade, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those in need in the Coeur d’Alene/Spokane areas.
OutPartnering™ Center (OPC) employee Chad Lamb was enjoying a day out with his family when his then 9 year-old son Bubba took notice of a homeless man. Chad and his wife Mistie explained to Bubba that some people don’t have homes or jobs; sometimes all they have is what they can carry. Bubba was so moved to learn about this lifestyle he wanted to give the man something, so he offered up his very own teddy bear.
Touched by their son’s generosity, the Lamb family came up with the idea of filling a grocery bag with items that could help make those in need a little more comfortable, a sweatshirt, a couple of cans of ready-to-eat food, a juice box, and few toiletry items. The Lambs stored the bags in their car and as they came upon someone in need they would pull over and hand out a bag. One day Bubba noticed someone he wanted to give a bag to but, while they had items for a bag, they had no spare bags in their car. After scrambling to find something – anything – to hold the items, they decided to use Bubba’s very own school backpack, which they promptly emptied, filled, and provided to the person. Bubba was thrilled with the idea of handing out the items in a backpack, as in his own words, “they can use the bag to hold some of their stuff.” And with that, Bubba’s Backpack Brigade was born.
Chad brought his family’s story to Executive Vice President Greg West’s attention in the fall of 2010. Moved by his story Greg West decided the OPC would support Bubba’s Backpack Brigade year round. During the 2010 holiday season OPC employees were asked to bring in items to fill the backpacks. As a result, OPC employee’s contributions helped fill 50 backpacks! As Greg West said, “Bubba and his family have inspired all of our employees to help make a difference. We have made a commitment as a company to assist Bubba in his mission as a way for our company to give back. Thank you Bubba and the family for inspiring us all here at HRG.”
HRG has a permanent donation box set up in the OPC and because of HRG’s assistance Bubba’s Backpack Brigade is handing out up to 20 backpacks a month! HRG is proud to have employee-owners like Chad and those at the OPC who take time to give back to those in need.