Challenge to Fight Hunger Gets off to Strong Start for South Brunswick Food Pantry

The South Brunswick Food Pantry got off to a fantastic start in the opening week of the Feinstein Foundation's thirteenth annual Challenge to Fight Hunger.  The pantry received a total of $15,737 in monetary donations, as well as 2,884 donations of food items.

"This was just an amazing start and I had tears of joy," said Social Services Director LouAnne Wolf.  "I was at an event Saturday night and someone came up to me and handed me a large donation.  I was just blown away.  We just have individuals in this community who are so giving and so caring.  They want us to keep doing what we are doing, which is helping the less fortunate."

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 $1.00 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.

The drive is coming at an ideal time for Social Services, as the need in the community has increased in the face of the struggling economy.

"Our requests for aid have gone up," Wolf said.  "The initial holiday donation drive was less than anticipated so this is just the boost we need."

 Wolf estimated Social Services has spent between $7,000 to $9,000 per month since January providing aid to the less fortunate.  Before the Feinstein Foundation Challenge began, Social Services had about $38,000 left for the entire year, which is why donations are so sorely needed.

During last year's challenge, the Food Pantry collected 16,092 food items and raised $31,584 in donations. 

"The point of this drive is not how much we get from the Feinstein Foundation," Wolf said.  "It's about raising awareness that we have people who are going hungry throughout the country and right here in South Brunswick.  We need to help by giving people in town a hand-up to aid them in getting back on their feet."

The South Brunswick Food Pantry's Feinstein Foundation Challenge to Fight Hunger Totals:

Check back with South Brunswick Patch each Monday for running donation totals for the Challenge to Fight Hunger.

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. 

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.