Challenge to Fight Hunger has Strong Second Week for South Brunswick Food Pantry

The second week of the Challenge to Fight Hunger provided another round of strong donations from the community to the South Brunswick Food Pantry.  Last week saw the pantry bring in over $4,000 in monetary donations and over 900 different food items.

"I'm very excited as this is about half of last year's total in two weeks," said Social Services Director LouAnne Wolf.  "Keep up the good work South Brunswick."

During last year's challenge, the Food Pantry collected 16,092 food items and raised $31,584 in donations.  The pantry started off this year's donation drive with monetary donations of over $15,000 and over 2,000 food item donations in the first week.

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.

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.

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.

"Any Girl Scout or Boy Scout troops, who want to get involved, please do," Wolf said.  "And I challenge each and every school, preschool and local clergy group to get involved one way or another. Please, we need everyone’s help in the community to reach our goal."

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.