Dunkin’ Donuts to collect backpacks, food for kids

The program is expected to benefit 300 children in Campbell and Warren.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — From now through Sept. 20, Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in the Youngstown area will collect new and gently used backpacks for the Second Harvest Food Bank’s BackPack Program.

The backpacks will be filled with child-friendly, nonperishable, easily consumed and vitamin-fortified food and given to low-income children in the Campbell and Warren schools on the last school day before every weekend or holiday during the school year. The program is designed to discreetly send necessary food home to children during times when other resources are not always available.

The program is a way for local business owners to give back to the community through the activities of the Dunkin Brands Community Foundation.

All those making a backpack donation will be given a free donut.

During the coming school year, Second Harvest Food Bank estimates it will distribute 300 backpacks of food to low-income children in Campbell and Warren, the two local school districts with backpack programs, each weekend.

As many as 35,000 backpacks are distributed nationally, making the BackPack Program one of the fastest-growing within the network of programs.

Second Harvest Food Bank provides food to approximately 155 hunger relief organizations in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties. In 2007, the Food Bank distributed 5.3 million pounds of food.

Backpacks can be dropped off at the following Dunkin’ Donuts locations:

U3560 E. State St., Hermitage, Pa.

U2720 Salt Springs Road, Girard.

U2823 E. State St., Salem.

U855 W. State St., Salem.

U3545 Youngstown Road S.E., Warren.

U4812 Mahoning Ave., Austintown.

U6041 Market St., Boardman.

U1301 Boardman-Poland Road, Poland.

U4299 Boardman-Canfield Road, Canfield.

U1001 E. Western Reserve Road, Youngstown.

U1501 Niles-Cortland Road, Warren.

Backpacks collected at the Hermitage store will benefit the Community Food Warehouse of the Shenango Valley in Farrell, Pa. All other participating stores will support Second Harvest in the Mahoning Valley.