Feinstein Challenge to help food banks in Shelton, Ansonia

SHELTON - The drive to stamp out hunger is in full force through April 30 during the 16th annual Alan Shawn Feinstein $1 Million Giveway to Fight Hunger campaign.  

Feinstein, a philanthropist from Rhode Island, has pledged to give away $1 million dollars to hunger relief nationwide. 

Feinstein will add to all contributions received by Spooner House during this campaign. The larger the contribution received by Spooner House, the more Feinstein funds will be given to help us help others in the lower Naugatuck Valley. 

This is the 13th year Spooner House has participated in the program. Donations received during this time will make you a partner in the most successful grassroots campaign to fight hunger of all time. 

 

Only gifts of cash, checks or non-perishable food received by April 30 will count towards the Spooner House total used to determine the amount of funds they will be eligible to receive from Feinstein’s challenge grant. Non-perishable food donated will be valued at $1 per item. 
The Feinstein million dollars will be divided proportionately among all agencies complying with the food drive formula. There will be a minimum of $250 and a maximum of $35,000 given to participating agencies. Complete results from this year’s drive will be posted on the Feinstein Foundaton website in August.

 

“Many of us recognize the vital need in our community that providing food is the most basic human need, one that has increased over the last several years,” commented Susan Agamy, Executive Director of Spooner House. “In addition to the continuing difficult economy, high unemployment rate and expensive cost of living in this area, families have also been hit hard by recent storms, including Superstorm Sandy in late October and Blizzard Charlotte just last month. Participating in this year’s Feinstein Challenge Grant is more important than ever.”

 

Last year Spooner House raised $35,522 in cash and nonperishable food donations during this campaign. This past year, Spooner House provided almost 190,000 meals to community residents, including men, women and children, seniors, veterans, the disabled and others, who may have otherwise gone without a meal. This represents an increase of more than 150% over the last four years.

 

Checks should be made payable and mailed to: Spooner House,30 Todd Road, Shelton, 06484. 

Donations may also be made via PayPal by clicking on the Donate button at http://www.actspooner.org/.

Deliveries of non-perishable food items are accepted at the above location Monday through Friday 

between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Donors may also set up a special time for food delivery by calling 203-225-0453.

  

In Ansonia, donations for Spooner House’s Kathleen B. Samela Memorial Food Bank may be brought to the office at Christ Episcopal Church, 56 Cliff St., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. weekdays or call 203-734-2715 to arrange for drop offs at another time.

 

The $1 Million Giveaway to Fight Hunger is an effective, grassroots effort to fight hunger in America .  Founded in 1991 by Alan Shawn Feinstein, a philanthropist from Cranston, R.I., the Feinstein Foundation is dedicated to charity endeavors focused on the alleviation of hunger and the significance of the values of caring, compassion and brotherhood in the community service sector.
Feinstein’s past $1 million challenges to fight hunger have raised a record $1.5 billion for over 3,000 agencies nationwide. Feinstein has a simple goal; he believes no one, not one person, should go without adequate food.

 

Non-profit Area Congregations Together, Inc. was formed in 1979. Today, Spooner House is operated by ACT and devoted to helping clients establish self-sufficiency in an atmosphere of respect and dignity. Area Congregations Together, Inc. is a partner agency of the Valley United Way.

This information is taken from a press release.