Backpack Snack Attack Fall Fling Dinner and raffle raises $7,085

WARWICK — On Monday evening, Nov. 6, The Backpack Snack Attack Spring Fling dinner and raffle raised $7,085 with all proceeds going toward the program.
The sixth annual event, supported by many local businesses, organizations and individuals, was hosted and sponsored by Grappa Ristorante at 22 Railroad Ave. in the Village of Warwick.
Five weeks All the prizes in the raffle were donated by businesses or individuals. And with proceeds from the dinner combined with raffle ticket sales and donations, the event exceeded the fund raiser's $7,000 goal.
There are approximately 280 children currently enrolled and the proceeds should cover the cost of feeding each child for another five weeks.
For the past eight years elementary school children in this area have been taking advantage of Backpack Snack Attack, a charitable program designed to insure that needy children always have enough to eat.
The program is available to public elementary schools in Warwick, Florida, Pine Island and Greenwood Lake.
Volunteers stuff backpacks with food for needy children to enable them to eat at home on weekends and during the summer when the free breakfast and lunch meals they receive at school are not available.
The backpacks, with individually sized and ready to eat or microwave ready food items are sent home with the children every Friday and returned to the schools the following Monday.
Guests at the Spring Fling Dinner enjoyed salad, entrée and dessert along with soft drinks and a cash bar.
Widespread community support"We appreciate the tremendous support we received from the town and the business community," said Back Pack Snack Attack volunteer Len Singer. "We would also like to add a special thank you to Tony and Nick and the rest of the Grappa staff for hosting this event. Grappa Ristorante has helped us raise over $7,000 in each of the past six years. They donate the food and the staff volunteers their time."
Singer also added that Grappa also donated a $100 gift certificate and a $60 gift certificate for the raffle.
For additional information about the BackPack Attack program visit: www.warwickreformedchurch.org.
- Roger Gavan