Sizzle Dining 2026 hits halfway point as 140 restaurants back Blessings in a Backpack

Sizzle Dining is underway through the month of September, with 140 restaurants offering curated menus to support Blessings in a Backpack, a program that ensures children don’t go hungry. As September hits the halfway point, Executive Director of Sizzle Dining Guy Clarke and Collier County Arts and Culture Manager John Melleky joined Gulf Coast News at 9 to talk about how the event is going so far. Participating restaurants donate a portion of their proceeds to Blessings in a Backpack. Sizzle Dining also draws in new patrons to restaurants during the slow season. Sizzle Dining runs all month long. Last year, more than 87,000 meals were sold, and this year, organizers aim to exceed 100,000 meals. For more information on Sizzle Dining, click here. WATCH THE FULL SEGMENT ABOVE DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV