South Brunswick Girls Step Up to Aid Less Fortunate

Entering the final week of the Feinstein Foundation's annual "Challenge to Fight Hunger," the South Brunswick Food Pantry now sits just a few hundred dollars short of last year's record total.

Last week, the pantry was aided by the contributions of four South Brunswick High School students who organized a food drive at the Route 27 Stop & Shop. The efforts of Rachel Greenberg, Amanda Glavocich, Stephanie Glavocich and Kaitlyn Fu resulted in a substantial amount of food and gift cards. 

Other top contributors included Cambridge Elementary School, Crossroads North Middle School, KeyBoard Kids Preschool, Wegmans, Mom’s Club of South Brunswick and Dayton Presbyterian Church. Last week, the pantry received $3,404 in monetary donations and 2,179 food items to bring the challenge total up to $70,229.80 this year.

"We are shy of beating 2012’s numbers by about $230," said Carol Mazzerella of the Social Services Department on Thursday. "We are excited to be this close to our previous year’s number and with another 12 days to go we are confident we will exceed our expectations.  We are so grateful for the tremendous response from our local businesses and residents."

Each year, from March 1 through April 30, the Feinstein Foundation's Challenge to Fight Hunger asks anti-hunger agencies across the country to raise funds and collect as many food donations as possible. Alan Shawn Feinstein, founder of The Feinstein Foundation, then divides his donation of $1 million proportionately among approximately 2,000 agencies participating in the challenge. Each food item donated is valued at $1 per item. 

South Brunswick was able to generate the eighth-highest donation total in the state of New Jersey last year with $43,534.77 in monetary donations and 26,925 food items. In 2011, South Brunswick donated 19,703 food items and donated $46,126 in cash to the pantry during the "Challenge to Fight Hunger."

The Food Pantry provides food and gift cards to less fortunate families all year round. Social Services also provides emergency assistance by helping families with utility bills and rental assistance.

Please send donations to LouAnne Wolf, Director of Social Services, South Brunswick Social Services, PO Box 190, Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852. 

Please mark "Feinstein Foundation" in the memo on your check. All donations should be made payable to the South Brunswick Human Intervention Trust Fund. 

For more information about donating or volunteering for the South Brunswick Food Pantry call 732-329-4000 ext. 7674.  

Challenge to Fight Hunger

Money Donated

Food Items Donated

Total Challenge Credit

Week 1

$17,057 

14,264

$31,321