Community Corner

Challenge to Fight Hunger Equals Last Year's Totals, But More Help is Needed

South Brunswick Food Pantry still hopeful to reach $50,000 in monetary donations.

This year's Challenge to Fight Hunger has been a success for the South Brunswick Food Pantry as last lear's totals have already been exceeded with the rest of April to go.

"We have matched last years total in food donations after six weeks and we are ahead of the monetary totals as well," said Social Services Director LouAnne Wolf.  "Please keep your donations coming.  We are still in need of snack foods, coffee, parmalot (boxed milk) and paper products. We still would love to reach our goal of $50,000 in monetary donations."

 That goal is vital for the pantry through the rest of the year as the need in the community is still rising due to the recession.  

Find out what's happening in South Brunswickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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 approximately 2,000 agencies participating in the challenge.  Each food item donated is valued at $1 per item.  

The more donations the pantry receives, the more money comes in from the Feinstein Foundation.  An estimated $230 million was raised by anti-hunger agencies across the country during last year's challenge.  During last year's challenge, the South Brunswick Food Pantry collected 16,092 food items and raised $31,584 in donations.

Find out what's happening in South Brunswickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Wolf praised the efforts of some local schools that helped bring in additional aid.

"We want to thank Indian Fields for doing the projects they did to assist us in our totals, as well as Brunswick Acres kindergarten classes," she said.  "Keep up the good work kids."

A planned donation drive at opening day for the SBAA was washed out due to the rain on Friday, but the pantry will have bins at each field on Friday and Saturday to collect food, so residents are asked to please remember to bring along donations to the game.

Monetary donations can be dropped off at the Social Services Department in the municipal building.  Hours for donation drop offs have changed and are now Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays 8:30 a.m. to 2:30p.m. and Tuesdays 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Residents can make donations for the Feinstein Foundation through April 30.  To donate via mail send to: South Brunswick Social Services, P.O.Box 190, Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852.

The checks should be made out to the SB Human Intervention Trust Fund with the Feinstein Foundation written in the memo line.

 

Challenge to Fight Hunger Money Donated Food Items Donated Total Challenge Credit Week 1 $15,737.59  2,884 $18,621.59 Week 2 $4,030 913 $4,943 Week 3 $1,680 3,909 $5,589 Week 4 $11,439.10 930 $12,369 Week 5 $1,405.45 2,990 $4,395.45 Week 6 $891.30 4,816 $5,707.30 Total $35,028.44 16,442  $51,470.44

Check back each week for running totals in the Challenge to Fight Hunger.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here