Holiday raffle to support Backpack Snack Attack program raises nearly $2,600

WARWICK — On Wednesday evening, Nov. 20, a drawing was held at La Piazza Wine Bar on Railroad Avenue in the Village of Warwick to select the winners of the 2013 Backpack Snack Attack Holiday Raffle.

"We raised $2,260 in raffle sales and $305 in donations," reported Back Pack Snack Attack volunteer Len Singer.

Since January 2009, elementary school children in this area have been taking advantage of this local charitable program designed to insure that they always have enough to eat.

It's called the Backpack Snack Attack and it's supported by many local businesses.

The Warwick Reformed Church on Maple Avenue originated this program, available to public elementary schools in Warwick, Florida, Pine Island and Greenwood Lake.

Program volunteers stuff backpacks with food for needy children to enable them to eat at home on weekends when the free breakfast and lunch meals they receive at school are not available. Currently the organization feeds more than 300 children.

"To protect their identity the schools provide a number assigned to each needy child," explained Program Executive Director Shirley Puett. "The backpacks, with individually sized and ready to eat or microwave ready food items are then sent home with the children every Friday and returned to the schools the following Monday."

During the drawings Leo R. Kaytes, president of Leo Kaytes Ford, and manager Leslie Culkin announced that Backpack Snack Attack has been selected as the non for profit charity that will receive the proceeds from their Drive 4 UR Community fund raiser next August.

Backpack will receive $20 from Ford for every test drive conducted throughout August for up to $6,000. In addition there will be food drives and other activities to benefit Backpack.

"Backpack would like to thank all of the businesses that make this annual fund raiser possible," said Puett. "We would especially like to give special thanks to Tony and Nick, of Grappa Ristorante and LaPiazza Wine Bar. With their support of our fund-raising activities we have raised over $30,000 the last two years.

For more information about the Backpack Snack Attack program visit www.backpacksnackattack.com.