The Fountain Hills Backpack Challenge, which collected school supplies for foster children in the community, succeeded expectations thanks in no small part to the enormous community effort shown.

The town of Fountain Hills came together to collect 224 backpacks and an abundance of school supplies that include pencils, notebooks and binders.

Cay Svob, who organized the Challenge, felt an outpour of community support for a cause that she said everyone can get behind.

“It (community feedback) has been great,” Svob said. “I have talked to more people in Fountain Hills, running this event. People have been helping in all sorts of ways. We have had people make the boxes, we collected the supplies and some people just showed up with five or six backpacks.”

Along with a positive reaction from the community, the response and support from the business community was just as strong.

Six restaurants hosted the challenge throughout the months of June and early July. Desert Canyon Bar and Grill kicked off the challenge on June 25 followed by HD Asian Bistro, Fireside Grill, The Hills Pizza and Dessert, Senor Taco and Streets of New York.

Fountain Hills Food Cart also collected donations.

Other businesses showed support by donating gift baskets which were raffled off at each event. A ticket was entered into the raffle for each backpack donated.

“The businesses I have talked to have all been really supportive,” Svob said. “Many donated up to $500 either in gift cards or supplies for the baskets. They all seemed happy to do it.”

Svob did have concerns about the group reaching their goal of 100 at the beginning but the event at Fireside Grill on July 5 was the events big night.

“That night was like our breakthrough night,” Svob said. “We went from about 40 backpacks all the way to 70. It was like a moment of relief.”

All of the supplies collected in this “Backpack Challenge” will be given to the Arizona non-profit, VOICES for CASA children, who will distribute the donations to foster children.