Restaurant owners donate $5,000 to Backpack Snack Attack
Warwick. The owners of Grappa Ristorante La Piazza Martina and Wine Bar owners have donated $5,000 to Backpack Snack Attack to help purchase school supplies for the upcoming school year.
Florida /
| 11 Aug 2020 | 01:09
Grappa Ristorante and La Piazza Martini and Wine Bar owners donated $5,000 to Backpack Snack Attack. From left, Backpack volunteer Lynne Nilsestuen, Nick Ahmetaj, Tony Sylaj, Backpack Director Jenna Price, and volunteers Len Singer, Mary Schweitzer, Monica Dorfman and Paulette Rudy. Provided photo.
This past March, when, due to the restrictions imposed for the COVID-19 pandemic, all restaurants closed and only take out orders were allowed, Tony Sylaj, owner and Nick Ahmetaj, his partner, decided they wanted to give back to the community during these trying times.
They agreed to donate 5 percent of their sales to Backpack Snack Attack, a local charitable program designed to insure that needy children always have enough to eat on weekends, when they’re not in school.
The program is available throughout the school year to public elementary schools in Warwick, Florida, Pine Island and Greenwood Lake.
“These two men,” said Backpack Snack volunteer Len Singer, “have long been big community supporters and have hosted multiple fundraisers for Backpack. There have been nine fund-raising dinners hosted by Grappa with all proceeds going to Backpack as well as many gift certificate contributions and active involvement in Back to School Month.”
The $5,000 will help purchase school supplies for the upcoming year.
This past year more than 300 children had 12 to 13 nutritional snacks delivered weekly to their home while school was closed.
“Backpack Snack Attack could not exist,” he added, “without the support of the Town of Warwick business community.”