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Organization raises $5,700 during ‘Backpack Snack Attack Back to School Month’

| 09 Sep 2013 | 09:00
    Photo by Roger Gavan ShopRite and Leo Kaytes Ford partnered four days in August in events where customers purchased items to fill a Ford truck parked in front of the supermarket with more than $500 in grocery donations. Front from left, Shirley Puett, director of Backpack Snack Attack and volunteer Paulette Wilk-Rudy. Rear from left, Leo R. Kaytes, president of Leo Kaytes Ford; CEO Leo Kaytes, Back Pack Snack Attack volunteer Linda Stephan, volunteer Len Singer and treasurer Linda Kurtz.
    Photo by Roger Gavan ShopRite and Leo Kaytes Ford partnered four days in August in events where customers purchased items to fill a Ford truck parked in front of the supermarket with more than $500 in grocery donations. Front from left, Shirley Puett, director of Backpack Snack Attack and volunteer Paulette Wilk-Rudy. Rear from left, Leo R. Kaytes, president of Leo Kaytes Ford; CEO Leo Kaytes, Back Pack Snack Attack volunteer Linda Stephan, volunteer Len Singer and treasurer Linda Kurtz.

WARWICK — The Warwick Town Board officially proclaimed this past August as “Backpack Snack Attack Back to School Month.”

Backpack Snack Attack is a non-profit organization that provides nutritional snacks to more than 300 needy school children each week of the school year. The program is run entirely by a group of volunteers and supported by donations and fund raising.

Thanks to the involvement and support of 91 businesses in Florida, Pine Island and Warwick, the Back to School month initiative raised $5,200 in cash and $500 in groceries.

“We were thrilled with the support of the local business owners,” said Shirley Puett, director of Backpack Snack Attack. “Their commitment to working with us in eliminating hunger in our community is greatly appreciated.”

During the month of August businesses throughout the town collected donations from their customers in several different ways.

Restaurants, for example, used envelopes with information about the program and fund raiser that accompanied a patron’s check at the end of the meal.

Banks, delis, bakeries and various other types of businesses used coin drop containers that were decorated with the necessary information.

Other businesses had their own unique promotions.

The Landmark Inn, Grappa Ristorante and Fetch Bar and Grill combined for more than $ 1,000 in donations.

One hundred per cent of all donations to the program will be used to purchase food and backpacks. Annual expenses have now exceeded $80,000.

Anyone interested in getting involved in Back to School month may contact Len Singer at lenscott57@gmail.com or Shirley Puett at backpacksnackattack@yahoo.com.