LACEY – The Surf Corvette Club and Biagio’s Trattoria teamed up for a benefit recently to benefit the Lacey Food Bank.
The parking lot of the Lanoka Harbor restaurant was filled with a variety of sports cars and other classic vehicles. The event featured pizza, burgers, and hot dogs for purchase while trophies were awarded for various categories.
The event was limited to the first 50 cars and Lacey Food Bank volunteer Laura Spina was present to accept the monetary donations made during the event as well as the non-perishable food donations.
Valerie Anjos Jacoby, a member of the Surf Corvette Club noted that the event featured, “beautiful weather for our Cruise for a Cause – and so many beautiful cars.”
Lacey Food Bank Coordinator Laura Caroccia said the event was filled with family fun. Giving back to the community was the hallmark of the event.
“Who didn’t want a Corvette growing up? I know I did and with Mother Nature cooperating, the weather was picture perfect for a family day outing to see, touch and chat with the owners of some of the beautiful and classic cars that make up the membership of the Surf Corvette Club,” Caroccia said.
She added that visitors to the event were asked to bring a non-perishable food donation or a small monetary donation that would go toward replenishing the food stocks at the Lacey Food Bank.
“And bring they did,” Caroccia said.
Spina remarked that “not only was the day bright and beautiful, but the enthusiasm and support of the Surf Corvette Club members and Biagio’s Trattoria set the stage early for a day of generosity and camaraderie from everyone who attended.”
Spina added, “when the day was done I had an overflowing trunkful of non-perishables and more than $350 that will go toward providing some extras for our families as we head into the fall season.”
Caroccia said, “we can’t thank you enough Nancy Conway and all the members of the Surf Corvette Club and Biagio’s Trattoria for your continued support of Lacey Food Bank.”
The Lacey Food Bank has also been involved in helping students return to what will be a very unique start to the school year. The Lacey Food Bank Kids group volunteers conducted a program in a slightly different way.
“The current health situation forced us to put on our thinking caps and try to figure out a way to get basic supplies to our LFBKids in grades kindergarten through 8th grades while still keeping to social distancing,” Caroccia said.
She said instead of the usual separate distribution that is normally held for this purpose, “we loaded up the wagons and positioned ourselves and our supplies right smack in the middle of the regular August food distribution – outside, under the hot August sun.”
Caroccia added, “for many of our parents, the added expense of buying Back to School supplies can be overwhelming. Even the most basic of school supply shopping can run upwards of $50 a child. The LFB Kids volunteers make every effort to help defray these costs by providing our client children in grades K-8 with supplies they will need as school begins.”
She added that children received the basic school supplies of pencil cases, pencils, notebook, crayons, markers, rulers, erasers, sharpeners, glue sticks, child scissors and other items. Acknowledging the current health advisory, the LFBKids volunteers thanked Holly Dress Me Up, which also purchased child themed protective face masks which are not normally back to school items.
“We sadly acknowledge that the times we are in are far from normal and our thanks and appreciation goes out to the community organizations, businesses and private citizens whose generosity made this Back to School event possible and who helped us provide our LFBKids the resources to start smart,” Caroccia said.
She noted that the volunteers sorted, carried and packed the supplies during one of the hottest days in August. Caroccia also thanked Rosa Steitz and Debbie Candeletti who stood outside with her as the temperature rose “and seemed to melt the asphalt as we distributed supplies and back to school snacks to our families.”
The Surf Corvette club is hosting another “Cruise For A Cause” event at Biagio’s Trattoria from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on September 20. This event will benefit the Toms River Field of Dreams and is also limited to the first 50 cars.
The club was established in 1963 and hosts many car show cruise events that benefit local causes. It is based in Toms River and is a social club for anyone owning or wanting to own a Corvette.
