By Jennifer Larkin, Special Writer
The community is really coming through for this year’s Feinstein Challenge Food Drive, but more is to be done to beat last year’s $70,000 total.
A nationally known philanthropist and humanitarian, Alan Shawn Feinstein has an impact in Middlesex County, said South Brunswick Director of Social Services LouAnne Wolf.
Committed to community service and driven to fight hunger, founder of the annual $1 million annual giveaway, Mr. Feinstein is willing to proportionally match, dollar for dollar, any donations for the hungry, according to Ms. Wolf.
”This is the fourth year we’re doing it and after two weeks we’re at 50 percent of where we were last year,” said Ms. Wolf, “Last year we had $70,000 with a combined $27,000 in food donations and $44,000 in monetary value (donations). This year’s fine print includes all kind gifts given; anything will count as fair market value.”
A Rhode Island native with a background in journalism and education, Mr. Feinstein founded the World Hunger Program at Brown University, the Feinstein International Famine Center at Tufts University, and the Center for a Hunger Free America at the University of Rhode Island, according to the foundation’s website.
In addition he’s also received the American Historical Society’s Distinguished Services Award and the American Red Cross Longfellow Humanitarian Award, as well as many others.
Many schools in Rhode Island have been named for him including the Graduate School of Johnson & Wales University, the College of Arts and Science at Roger Williams University, the College of Education at Rhode Island College, the College of Continuing Education at the University of Rhode Island and several elementary schools and pre-schools, according to his website.
”We are so happy; the response to the giveaway is so good. It’s been wonderful,” said Ms. Wolf, “It’s turning out equal, if not better than our holiday fundraiser that we do each year.”
According to Mr. Feinstein’s site, more than 100 public and parochial schools identify themselves as ‘Feinstein Leadership Schools’ – encouraging their students to share his commitment to reaching out to help others in need.
According to its website, Mr. Feinstein believes that helping to better the lives of others, regardless of race, creed or color, is the greatest of all achievements.”The response from businesses, churches and synagogues, and schools has been abundant,” said Ms. Wolf. “It’s not about the money we get from the foundation – The goal is to raise awareness to eradicate hunger.”
Collections of food and money are being held from March through April 30 at the Human Intervention Trust Fund on the first floor of the Municipal Building on Route 522.
Donations can be made between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Residents can also make tax deductible checks out to South Brunswick Township, Attention: Social Services, P.O. Box 190, Monmouth Junction, NJ, 08852.
More information about the challenge can also be found at the feinsteinfoundation.org website.

