Regional Food Bank’s Backpack Program receives funds from CDPHP | Community Spirit

The 11th Annual CDPHP Holiday Appeal Raised $23,000 for the Regional Food Bank’s Backpack Program.

The money was raised with support from local businesses, the community and campaigns like CDPHP’s Holiday Appeal. Because of the support, the Backpack Program has expanded and now serves more than 341 students in 18 local schools in Albany, Columbia, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie and Warren counties.

The campaign was held during December and CDPHP matched business donations of $100 or more to the program (up to $5,000) and donated $5 for every new “like” on the Food Bank’s Facebook page (up to $5,000).

“We are grateful to the businesses and the community-at-large who joined together with CDPHP and supported this very worthy cause that positively affects the lives of hundreds of local children,” said CDPHP president and CEO John D. Bennett, MD in a statement. “We are excited that with the help of our annual appeal, the Food Bank can continue to expand the important services provided by this program in the Capital Region.”

The Backpack Program helps provide children in kindergarten through the six grade with food at times when school may not be able to provide food for them, like on weekends. Bags of child-friendly food are discreetly placed into the children’s backpacks on Friday afternoons.

“We are very grateful to everyone who supported the CDPHP Holiday Appeal this year, and want to thank CDPHP for its generous support of our BackPack program and for encouraging businesses and individuals in the community to do the same,” said Mark Quandt, executive director, Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York in a statement. “The support we received through the CDPHP Holiday Appeal will help many hungry children in our community.”

Organizations that participated in the 2011 CDPHP annual holiday appeal include:

• Adirondack Cabling, Inc.

• Apollo Partners N.Y., Inc.

• Digital X-Press

• CapBen Consulting

• Capital Bauer Insurance Agency, Inc.

• CapitalCare Medical Group, LLC

• The Chazen Companies

• Friends of the Lake George Association

• Kaatirondack Benefit Planning, Inc.

• Northeast Small Business Group

• NYS Department of Public Service, Finance & Budget, and Human Resources

• NYS Teachers’ Retirement System

• PEF Education Division 194

• RPI Finance Department

• SMS Media