South Brunswick Donations Leave Social Services 'Speechless'

FInal 'Challenge to Fight Hunger' totals smash old record, with over $55k in monetary donations and 30k food items given during two-month stretch.

South Brunswick's Social Services Department was hoping to at least match last year's record total during the Feinstein Foundation's annual "Challenge to Fight Hunger." But at the culmination of the two-month challenge, the final tally left the department in awe. South Brunswick residents and businesses donated a total of $55,187.05 in monetary donations, and 30,875 food items to smash last year's record. With each food item considered a $1 donation by the foundation, the challenge total came in at $86,062.05. "We're just speechless at the amount donated," said Social Services Director LouAnne Wolf. "Two weeks ago I said I'd be happy with $74,000, after we got about $70,000 last year. Then we kept growing during the final days, with so …

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South Brunswick Breaks Challenge Record

Final week of donations in April pushes South Brunswick over the top in the Feinstein Foundation's annual "Challenge to Fight Hunger."

Township residents and businesses continued to show their generosity from the beginning through the final days of the Feinstein Foundation's annual "Challenge to Fight Hunger." With the end of the challenge approaching last week and the South Brunswick Food Pantry inching closer to breaking the township donations record set last year, once again South Brunswick answered the call. A total of $1,962 in monetary donations was received, in addition to 1,281 food items, for a challenge total of $3,243. That brought the total for the challenge up to $73,472.90 this year, a new record. "There are still a couple of days left in April and we are expecting food donations from several schools, and local businesses," said Carol Mazzerella of the …

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Whiz Kids

South Brunswick Girls Step Up to Aid Less Fortunate

Four South Brunswick High School students help the township food pantry move closer to a record setting Challenge to Fight Hunger total.

Entering the final week of the Feinstein Foundation's annual "Challenge to Fight Hunger," the South Brunswick Food Pantry now sits just a few hundred dollars short of last year's record total. Last week, the pantry was aided by the contributions of four South Brunswick High School students who organized a food drive at the Route 27 Stop & Shop. The efforts of Rachel Greenberg, Amanda Glavocich, Stephanie Glavocich and Kaitlyn Fu resulted in a substantial amount of food and gift cards.  Other top contributors included Cambridge Elementary School, Crossroads North Middle School, KeyBoard Kids Preschool, Wegmans, Mom’s Club of South Brunswick and Dayton Presbyterian Church. Last week, the pantry received $3,404 in monetary donations and 2,179…

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Time Running Out for South Brunswick in Challenge to Fight Hunger

Donate now to help the less fortunate in South Brunswick.

With about two weeks remaining in the Feinstein Foundation's annual "Challenge to Fight Hunger," the South Brunswick Food Pantry needs a strong close to break last year's record high donation total. Last week, township residents and businesses gave $1,868 in monetary donations and 1,127 food items, for a challenge total of $2,995. We are so grateful for the continued response from the residents and community groups," said Carol Mazzerella of the Social Services Department. "We thank everyone who has participated and will continue to donate through April 30." Each year, from March 1 through April 30, the Feinstein Foundation's Challenge to Fight Hunger asks anti-hunger agencies across the country to raise funds and collect as many food …

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Food Pantry Approaching Donations Record

The annual "Challenge to Fight Hunger" is about $9k shy of last year's record total.

With the rest of April remaining, the South Brunswick Food Pantry looks like it will race passed last year's record donation total in the Feinstein Foundation's annual "Challenge to Fight Hunger." Last week, South Brunswick's Social Services Department received $8,021 in monetary donations and 1,110 food items. Those donations brought this year's total to $61,651.80, which is $8,807.97 shy of the 2012 total of $70,459.77. "Once again, the residents and local businesses continue to support the pantry and the Feinstein Challenge," said Carol Mazzarella of the Social Services Department. "We also received an in-kind/non-food donation of $5,000 from Stop & Shop in Monmouth Junction." Each year, from March 1 through April 30, the Feinstein …

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Food Pantry Still on Record Pace

Another strong week of donations to South Brunswick Social Services during the 'Challenge to Fight Hunger.'

Entering the final month of the Feinstein Foundation's annual "Challenge to Fight Hunger," the South Brunswick Food Pantry is still on pace for a record high number of donations. Last week, the pantry received $6,700 in monetary donations and 2,352 food items, bringing the donation total to $52,620.80. "We are extremely pleased with the way the residents and local businesses continue to respond," said Carol Mazzarella of the Social Services Department. "This week we received donations from Brunswick Urgent Care, Christ the King Church, and Triangle Home Fashions." Each year, from March 1 through April 30, the Feinstein Foundation's Challenge to Fight Hunger asks anti-hunger agencies across the country to raise funds and collect as many …

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South Brunswick Hunger Donations Continue Rolling In

Another solid week in the 'Challenge to Fight Hunger' for the South Brunswick Food Pantry.

South Brunswick businesses, community groups and residents are continuing to answer the call for the less fortunate. The township food pantry had another strong week of donations as part of the Feinstein Foundation's annual "Challenge to Fight Hunger," with South Brunswick Social Services looking to eclipse last year's donation total. Last week the pantry received over $2,500 in monetary donations and over 2,500 food items, bringing the total number of donations thus far for the two-month long challenge to just over $45,000. "We are happy to be in this position after only three weeks and with five more weeks to go," said Social Services Director LouAnne Wolf. "We hope those businesses in the community, as well as individuals who want to …

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South Brunswick Off to Record Pace in Challenge

Just two weeks in and the South Brunswick Food Pantry has already received over half of the entire total donated in last year's 'Challenge to Fight Hunger.'

The South Brunswick Food Pantry is in the midst of a different type of March Madness that has seen a record high number of donations from the community. In the first two weeks of the Feinstein Foundation's annual "Challenge to Fight Hunger," South Brunswick's Social Services Department has already exceeded 50 percent of last year's entire donation total for the two-month long challenge. "The response from the township residents and businesses continues to be very generous," said Carol Mazzarella of the Social Services Department. Each year, from March 1 through April 30, the Feinstein Foundation's Challenge to Fight Hunger asks anti-hunger agencies across the country to raise funds and collect as many food donations as possible. Alan Shawn…

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Big Week Fighting Hunger in South Brunswick

The opening week of the annual "Challenge to Fight Hunger" saw donations pour into the South Brunswick Food Pantry.

If the opening week was any indication, the annual "Challenge to Fight Hunger" could bring a record number of donations to the South Brunswick Food Pantry. Township Social Services received $17,057 in monetary donations and 14,264 food items for a total of $31,321 in challenge credits. "We are off to a great start and had a terrific week, thanks to the generosity of the township’s residents," said Carol Mazzarella of the Social Services Department. "This is the fourth year of our participation in the challenge and (Social Services Director Lou Anne Wolf) and I think that one of the reasons for such a great turnout in week one is that our residents know that we do this event annually.  Many of our community groups have already scheduled …

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Challenging South Brunswick to Fight Hunger

Feinstein Foundation's annual Challenge to Fight Hunger has become the biggest fundraising drive of the year for the South Brunswick Food Pantry.

Beginning March 1, South Brunswick is asked once again to answer the challenge to help fight hunger for low income families in the township. Each year, from March 1 through April 30, the Feinstein Foundation's Challenge to Fight Hunger asks 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.   "This has turned out to be our largest fundraiser each year," said South Brunswick Social Services Director LouAnne Wolf.  While the Feinstein Foundation's annual event is…

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