FORT MYERS, Fla. - s4story -- Sizzle Dining, Southwest Florida's premier culinary fundraiser, surpassed its ambitious goal of selling 100,000 meals during its monthlong dining event, generating a record $105,655 donation for Blessings in a Backpack Southwest Florida and delivering the most successful fundraising campaign in the event's 10-year history.

Participating restaurants from Marco Island to Babcock Ranch sold 105,655 meals throughout September, with $1 from every meal benefiting Blessings in a Backpack Southwest Florida, which provides weekend meals to elementary school children facing food insecurity. The total shattered the previous record of 87,483 meals sold in 2025 by more than 18,000 meals and marked the first time Sizzle Dining expanded to span the entire month of September.

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In addition to contributing through meal sales, several restaurants made additional gifts to amplify their impact. Buck & Rider, the highly anticipated seafood restaurant opening soon in Naples, was eager to make a positive impact on the community before even opening its doors. Demonstrating that commitment, the restaurant generously donated $766, an amount representing the average number of Sizzle meals sold per participating restaurant.

Meanwhile, Bone Hook Restaurant and Brewery doubled its contribution by donating an extra $1 for each of the 313 meals it sold during Sizzle Dining, increasing its total gift to $626.

"People told me selling 100,000 meals was a crazy goal," said Guy Clarke, executive director of Sizzle Dining. "But Southwest Florida showed up and proved otherwise. Together, diners and restaurants sold more than 105,000 meals, creating a record $105,655 donation that will help feed local children who might otherwise go hungry on weekends. For an event that started with just 26 restaurants in Naples, this is an incredible testament to the generosity of our community."

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Since it began as Naples Restaurant Week in 2016, Sizzle Dining has sold more than 530,000 meals. Blessings in a Backpack has received more than $340,000 from the event since becoming its charity of choice in 2021.

During the 2025-26 school year, Blessings in a Backpack's Southwest Florida chapter served 31 school programs, fed about 8,000 children every Friday and distributed 256,000 weekend food bags. These achievements were made possible by the collective generosity of donors and community partners throughout the region, with Sizzle Dining's annual contribution proudly among them.

For more information on Sizzle Dining, visit SizzleDining.org.