Rita’s raising funds for Manna on Main Street

Event scheduled for Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m.

LANSDALE » Whether you choose one of the brand new water ice flavors — like Birch Beer, Twizzlers or Hawaiian Punch — or stick with a classic like cherry or lemon, your Rita’s Italian Ice of Lansdale purchase on Tuesday, July 25, between 6 and 9 p.m. will go a long way in helping Manna on Main Street feed families in the North Penn area and beyond who might otherwise go hungry.

The Rita’s location at 214 S. Broad St., Lansdale, is joining in the annual Florence Nightingale Challenge by donating 20 percent of all sales on Tuesday during the designated hours to the Manna on Main Street food pantry, noted owner Beth DiFrangia.

“This is our second year in the Florence Nightingale Challenge,” noted DiFrangia, who owns the business with her husband, Roger DiFrangia.

“Customers don’t need to mention the Challenge or show a flyer or anything like that. We just automatically donate 20 percent,” said DiFrangia, adding, “We rely on Manna to get the word out about the fundraiser, and we post it on our Facebook and Twitter.”

Everything on the menu of Rita’s frozen concoctions — which, as of this week, can now be enjoyed al fresco style at one of three outdoor tables — is eligible for a donation, including the new Stuffed

Blendini, a mix of frozen custard, Italian ice and toppings whirled with a core waiting to be filled with strawberry, caramel or fudge.

“When the Blendini is blended, the spindle creates a hole in the middle that can be stuffed, and it’s been pretty popular this summer,” explained DiFrangia, who added that the most popular treat of all is the gelati, with its frozen custard foundation topped with ice and more custard as the top layer.

The most ordered combination is mango Italian ice — also the most popular water ice flavor on its own — and vanilla custard, said DiFrangia, who admitted she harbors a special fondness for the lemon ice.

This year’s sugar free water ice flavors are tangerine, dragon fruit and mango peach.

An all-natural Italian ice was introduced in 2016 that contains no artificial colors or flavors and no high fructose corn syrup, DiFrangia noted.

“It only comes in a few flavors … pineapple, strawberry, banana and orange,” she said.

GARY PULEO — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA At Rita’s Italian Ice of Lansdale, Natasha Camelin, left, and manager Steven Yezzi serve up the store’s most popular water ice flavor, mango, on Thursday.