The Elevator
Backpacks For Life's mission is to provide homeless, low income and at risk veterans and their families with things they cannot provide for themselves. Through peer-to-peer mentorship, distributing backpacks filled with daily & long term essentials and linking veterans with resources, our goal is to get veterans and their family back to living their best life!
The Leaders
BRETT D'ALESSANDRO
Brett is the founder and President of Backpacks For Life. After serving a 6-year term with the United States Marine Corps., Brett has found himself giving back to his brothers and sisters by serving the homeless and at risk veteran community. Brett deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 and returned to realize a large gap in the care that was provided to veterans coming home from war. From this, Backpacks For Life was born.
ALEXA MODERO
Alexa is the co-founder and Vice President of Backpacks For Life. She is also Brett’s girlfriend. Upon Brett’s return home from Afghanistan, Alexa saw first hand just how challenging it was for Brett to reintegrate back into civilian life. Alexa works closely alongside Brett to ensure our veterans and their spouses are taken care of. Alexa oversees all communications, events and operations for Backpacks For Life.
The Reason
“I feel like you are mostly helping out more than the locals are doing and that is truly heartbreaking! I do want you all to know we are all about helping others and karma and what you want done to you you do to others so we will help out with what we can as soon as we get our family situation back on track and are able to live a normal life. It’s going to take time but do know once we start to get there I will help support y’all and give to y’all as much as possible! Thank you again so much.”
-Wife of Army Veteran
“With a wife and four kids to say something as simple as buying my own Backpack was “impossible” is an understatement. I was left with the finalized thought of spending my first year in college at 32 with my schoolbooks in a shopping bag. My wife sat down with me and asked if there were any Veteran Nonprofits that helped in regards to something as simple as a backpack. That’s when we came across “Backpacks for Life Inc” without hesitation they shipped one right out. So with tears in our eyes and love in our hearts we THANK YOU!!!”
-Navy Veteran
“Backpacks For Life has been a huge blessing for me, after going through a couple of tough years of losing everything and having no place to call home. When I finally got my apartment, they helped me pay my first month’s rent, get furniture and had movers bring it to my new apartment. I’m so grateful for them helping me at a pivotal, intricate time, especially during the time when all of the larger organizations declined to help. As a Veteran, it is important to me to know that Backpacks For Life is supported and able to continue their work because they truly have a heart to help Veterans.”
-Army Veteran