Donations Down to South Brunswick Food Pantry

Donations were down last week for the South Brunswick Food Pantry, and concerns are growing that this year's total for the annual Challenge to Fight Hunger will not match last year's. The pantry received just over $300 last week, after four straight weeks over $1,000.

"Donations have slowed down quite a bit, and now we are very concerned about even matching what we received last year, let alone surpassing it," said Social Service Director LouAnne Wolf. "Please note that the number of families we are assisting is up from years' past, and we continue to need the help of the community more than ever."

Social Services is seeing an average of about 12 to 16 families per 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.

19,703 food items and donated $46,126 in cash to the pantry during the Challenge to Fight Hunger. South Brunswick generated the eighth-highest donations total in the state of New Jersey.

"Please find it in your hearts to send in donations to our Human Intervention Trust Fund and/or participate in your children’s school fundraisers or make food donations on your own," Wolf said. "Thank you and please remember, charity begins at home."

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

Challenge to Fight Hunger

Money Donated

Food Items Donated

Total Challenge Credit

Week 1

$2,534.44 

4,851

$7,385.44

Week 2

$10,799.26

1,479

$19,663.70

$5,605.00

$26,692.70

$314

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

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.