A Challenge for South Brunswick to Fight Hunger

South Brunswick residents are being challenged to fight hunger, as the township Social Services Department is carrying high hopes the community will answer that challenge as they did one year ago.  The South Brunswick Food Pantry is partnering once again with the Feinstein Foundation next month to take part in the foundation's thirteenth annual Challenge to Fight Hunger. 

"Not only does this help the community become aware of the issue of hunger, but it's also raising awareness throughout the country," said Social Services Director LouAnne Wolf.  "So many different organizations helped last year raising money and we're all trying to get a piece of the pot."

Each year, from March 1 through April 30, the Feinstein Foundation challenges 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 the agencies participating in the challenge.  

Each food item donated is valued at $1.00 per item.  The more donations the pantry receives, the more money comes in from the Feinstein Foundation.

During last year's challenge, the Food Pantry collected 16,092 in food items and raised $31,584.10 in donations.   Combined together the pantry presented a total of $47,676.10 to the Feinstein Foundation. The pantry received 2 percent of the Feinstein Foundation's available funding.

Social Services is hoping to get the same overwhelming support from South Brunswick again this year, as it seeks to provide for the less fortunate.  Wolf said she's hoping for heavy involvement from local schools and youth organizations.

"We want to speak to different age levels and talk to the kids so they get inspired to do something different," she said.  "We hope they'll have contests to support this.  I'd love to see if we can get a penny wars donation contest going in all the schools to raise a lot of money.  We're also hoping to see some of the youth sports get involved with a food drive."

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.  The department is funded by donations from schools, clergy, small and large businesses, and residents, which makes the challenge so vital.

"If people devote two months to doing something that supports the people in need in South Brunswick then that's wonderful," Wolf said.  "And there's no one better to get involved in helping the less fortunate than children."

Each donation made from March 1 through April 30, during the Feinstein Foundation's Challenge to Fight Hunger, will make you a partner in the most successful effort to fight hunger of all time, Wolf said. 

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

All checks should be dated later than March 1.  For more information call 732-329-4000 ext. 7674.  To learn more about the Feinstein Foundation click here.