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(NewsDakota.com) – The Jamestown Basketball Boosters raised over ,300 and 1,600 food items for donation during a Blue Jay Blizzard on Saturday night at Jerry Meyer Arena.

In exchange for a donation of non-perishable food items or $5, the Jamestown Basketball Boosters gave away white Blue Jay t-shirts in an effort to create a white-out during the boys and girls basketball games.

Boys head basketball coach Kelley Kessler said they partnered with Orriginals to print about 1,000 t-shirts, and gave away about 950 of those Saturday.

“The crowd was fantastic and the support was great,” he said. “It was a fantastic event all-around.”

Kessler said the community donated over 1,600 non-perishable food items, which were delivered to the Salvation Army food pantry on Monday. He also says they received cash donations of about $1,300, which will go the American Heart Association.

Kessler says this was the first year they’ve held the event, and they plan to continue it in the future.

“The community always does such a great job of supporting us, whether we’re selling media guides or out fundraising for this or that,” he said. “I think it’s important for our kids to understand that you’re responsible to give back a little bit too.”