Adam Valenti, manager of Valenti's Italian Restaurant in Vass, and his wife, Lucy, hosted their third annual free dinner to raise money for Back Pack Pals.

This is a program sponsored by the Moore County Schools that provides backpacks of food to Moore County school children to take home on the weekend. For some of these children this is the only food they have on the weekend. Without it, they would return to school on Monday hungry, and unable to learn.

On Nov. 18, Valenti, along with his wait staff, served dinner to more than 60 people at the restaurant. He provided all the food and service, free of charge, as his contribution.

Donations were accepted on behalf of Back Pack Pals. More than $1,250 was presented to Linda Hubbard, coordinator of Back Pack Pals, and Donna McClary, principal of the Vass-Lakeview Elementary School.

Linda Hubbard presented both the Vass Lions Club and Adam with certificates in recognition of their efforts to support Back Pack Pals.

For the last three years the Vass Lions Club has assisted Adam Valenti with this project as well as contributing to this project directly.

The Valentis have taken on this annual project as a way of giving to the community.

"We feel a responsibility to do what we can to help the less fortunate of our area," says Adam Valenti.