Lifebridge Prepares Unhoused People for Winter with Backpacks & Necessities

PRESS RELEASE – 12/2/25

Exposure to harsh weather in the North Shore puts people without stable housing at great risk. To combat this issue, Lifebridge North Shore organized and distributed nearly 100 backpacks and winter coats on Tuesday to people experiencing homelessness in Salem, Beverly and Gloucester, Mass. “The Lifebridge Backpack Program” fills backpacks with cold weather supplies and personal hygiene items collected through community drives, directly leading to better health, safety, and dignity when shelter is unavailable.

“Backpacks are more than a practical tool,” said the program’s founder Laura Madison, a development committee member at Lifebridge. “Everyone—housed or unhoused—can have a backpack. Owning one makes you feel more normal and worthy when you’re going through a difficult time.”

The inspiration for the program came from Madison’s direct experience with her son’s homelessness. “During the five and a half months my son was a Lifebridge resident, I remember he was so depressed. His shoulders curled forward; I could tell he was losing hope. Then one day I picked him up for a job interview and he had this backpack that had been given to him. And he was completely transformed: his shoulders were back, his head was up. It meant so much to him.” When she felt moved to give back to Lifebridge, her husband suggested backpacks may be the right place to start.

The resulting Lifebridge Backpack Program distributes backpacks at one-day events in the winter and summer, when exposure to New England weather can lead to health and safety issues. Donation drives call for items that specifically address each season, such as bedrolls and thermal blankets in the winter, or sunscreen and water bottles in the summer. The CITYPAK backpacks are specifically designed for people experiencing street homelessness with weatherproofing and security features.

Now in its ninth year, the Lifebridge Backpack Program has grown to involve volunteers and donations throughout the North Shore community. This year’s winter drive coincided with Giving Tuesday, a national day of philanthropy, with volunteers from Arbella Insurance and Groom Construction assembling and handing out backpacks from Lifebridge’s Day Center in Salem. “When our committee first researched different places, it’s the Lifebridge people and what they’ve done for the community that really spoke to us,” said Kathleen Hanley, a total loss adjuster at Arbella insurance and one of this year’s volunteers. “We are living in an epidemic: people have lost their jobs during COVID or fell on hard times and are trying to get back on their feet, but there are limited or no resources for them. By participating in the Lifebridge Backpack Program, we get to see our efforts in action. It’s opened our minds to a whole different world.”

“I think it is notable that when the program started, we gave away 40 backpacks and Lifebridge would purchase most of the items inside,” said Brittany Molloy-Kenney, vice president of philanthropy at Lifebridge. “Now, we have 200 backpacks fully funded by the Lodge of St. Andrew to give out in the winter and summer. We have multiple rooms full of personal care items and coats donated by individuals and organizations like the Salem Police Department. It’s an overwhelming number of donations going directly to the people who need them most.”

Lifebridge North Shore is a non-profit that supports homeless and vulnerable individuals on their path to recovery, stability, and hope. Lifebridge believes in the fundamental worth and dignity of every human being and is dedicated to providing access to essential resources. By offering shelter, housing, meals, and other supportive services, Lifebridge promotes safety and physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health in the community.

Photo Gallery

Click on the thumbnails to enlarge. Photos by Helen Wurthmann.