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Main fundraiser for Backpack Program is back with help of local restaurants

Citizen Advocates is proud to announce the Taste of Malone Dinner is back – with a twist.

This year the main fundraiser for Citizen Advocates’ Backpack Program has been re-imagined for greater participation, but also recognizes the ongoing need for health and safety precautions.

Eight local restaurants have agreed to donate 20 percent of revenue generated from dinner orders made on the night of Thursday, Oct. 21 – both dine-in and takeout – to the Citizen Advocates Backpack Program.

Sponsored by Citizen Advocates, the main goal of the program is to eliminate childhood hunger in the North County. The Backpack Program provides eligible children in grades kindergarten through six with nutritious food on the weekend throughout the school year. 

The participating restaurants are: Donovan’s Steak & Ale, Hearth of Malone, Hosler’s Family Restaurant, King’s Wok Buffet, Malone Golf Club, Mo’s Pub & Grill, The Pine’s and Riverside Restaurant. 

“Given the challenges our local restaurants endured during the past 18 months, we are deeply humbled by their extreme generosity and commitment to support the Backpack Program,” said James Button, CEO of Citizen Advocates. “Together, with the help of many other local businesses and individuals, we are improving the health of our community through the elimination of childhood hunger.”

The Backpack Program costs about $70,000 annually to operate and provides roughly 450 local school-aged children with healthy meal choices on the weekend.  All funds raised go directly to the program, which relies entirely on volunteer time for support.  Each Tuesday, volunteers fill bags with food, which are then delivered to participating schools where staff members discreetly distribute the bags to participating children.

Several local individuals and businesses have generously given to help with program costs, including this year’s major sponsors: The Joy in Childhood Foundation, Adirondack for Kids, NBT Bank, TruNorthern Federal Credit Union, Sid G. Spear Insurance and United Way of the Adirondack Region.

Individuals wishing to sponsor an individual child for a year are encouraged to make a $200 donation to the Adopt-A-Kid Campaign.  To learn more, contact Joe Riccio at (518) 651-2760.