Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C -Pulaski) today announced his office will once again collect food items needed for school children this summer. The items will be distributed in partnership with Blessings in a Backpack’s Fulton and Oswego chapters. 

The charity drive begins on Thursday, May 25 and ends on Friday, June 9. Anyone wishing to drop off a donation can do so at Leader Barclay’s District Office, located at 19 Canalview Mall in Fulton.

Each Friday during the school year, Blessings in a Backpack provides snacks and ready-to-cook microwavable meals to elementary school children ahead of the weekend.Prior to summer vacation, larger food packages are distributed. Leader Barclay said past drives have been a success, and he hopes this year’s drive will yield similar results.

“The volunteers at Blessings in a Backpack do great work in our communities to reach kids in need. These summer break bags give kids much-needed nourishment to help with meals when they no longer have easy access to school lunches,” said Leader Barclay. “I hope this year we can help to collect just as much as we have in the past for the summer break bags.”

The following items are most needed and will be collected until Friday, June 9: 

• Fruit and grain cereal bars (any flavors) 
• Chocolate chip granola bars
• Gummy fruit snacks 
• Meat snack sticks 
• Jars of peanut butter 
• Jelly 
• Tuna fish 
• Canned chicken 
• Cans of condensed chicken noodle soup
• Tomato soup 

For questions or more information, please call 315-598-5185.