Every week the 40-plus members of the Butler AM Rotary pass around the “weekend backpack jug” to collect money for the Kids' Weekend Backpack Program in Butler.

So when Peggy Weckerly, Butler AM Rotary treasurer and the sales chairwoman, encouraged fellow members and others to vote for the program in a sports-like bracket competition, the decision was a no-brainer.

“It was the very least we could do. AM Rotary has always leaned heavily toward helping children and youth,” Weckerly said. “We have a very soft spot for the folks at Weekend Backpack Program.”

The group's effort was one of just many that helped The Kids' Weekend Backpack Program, sponsored by the Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation, win by just a few votes against a Pittsburgh-based animal charity organization on social media for a $1,500 cash-prize.

McQuistion Elementary School teacher Kim Thomas founded the program in 2015. The effort typically sends home a backpack full of food every Friday for roughly 360 elementary school students throughout the school year.

“I'm in awe of (Thomas) and the work she's done,” Weckerly said.

Clearview Federal Credit Union started Clearview Craziness, as the competition was dubbed, several weeks ago, pitting 16 regional charities against each other in the bracketed competition. Each week, people were invited to vote for one charity and the ones with the most votes made their way to the next round.

The social media competition was meant to coincide with the NCAA's March Madness that was canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“I can't even tell you how many thousands worth of food we gave,” Weckerly said of the Rotarians involvement. “Every time we get a chance to help, we respond immediately.”