Food, Donations Raised for Backpack Food Pantry Program

The UNO Pizzeria & Grill on Amherst Street in Nashua is hosting a food drive, dough raiser, and carnival this weekend, in order to collect food to ensure families that have signed up with the Backpack Food Pantry Program at the Amherst Street Elementary School have enough food when they return to school.

According to Debbie Caron, the Nashua Marketing Manager at UNO, the goal is to fill a U-Haul truck full of food. Non-perishable food items are being accepted from 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. at the restaurant and in the lobby of the Nashua Police Department all this week.

This weekend, Aug. 16, and Aug. 17, the truck will be in the parking lot of the restaurant to load up with the donations. A carnival will also be held this weekend from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is a non-perishable food item.

“There will be games, prizes, face painting, a 50/50 raffle, food, music and more! Stop by the dunk tank to dunk a Nashua police officer,” Caron said. “Bring the kids to see and touch police and fire vehicles. Sir Sterling from the Silver Knights will also be on hand to greet the kids. It will be a fun family event.”

The restaurant is also hosting a “dough raiser” through Sunday to help families that are in need. Up to 20 percent of the meal sales from patrons who eat and bring a copy of the dough raiser ticket attached to this post will be donated to the program.

For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/unonashua.amherst

According to officials, the Amherst Street school has one of the highest percentages of students on free or reduced lunch, 75 percent. PTO members and school officials created the program to assist in helping needy school families.

Former, PTO treasurer Sarah Marandos, said “Every little bit will help toward ensuring that Amherst Street students receive the nutrition they need in and out of school. “It’s really about educating the whole child, not just when they’re here.”

To make donations online, visit https://sites.google.com/site/amherststpto/backpack-program