For the 14th year in a row, Alan Shawn Feinstein, has put up $1 million of his own money to aid anti-hunger agencies throughout the country in their fight against hunger. Good Samaritan Ministries is participating in this challenge again this year.
The Feinstein Challenge: March Against Hunger campaign begins March 1st and will run through the end of April. All monetary donations during these two months count toward the total collected. The more money GSM collects, the larger portion of the Feinstein money awarded.
The challenge also includes a way that local schools and troops can contribute. Any canned goods collected by a school or scout group during the challenge can be counted as $1 per can.
Last year, GSM raised $98,448 during the challenge, an increase from the year before.
“This year, we’d like to break $100,000,” said executive director Angelia Bostick. “We’ve increased that number each year and I don’t think this year will be any different.”
GSM has several large projects scheduled during March and April including a large canned food drive in early March organized by BHS Sophomore Aaron Pulley as his major project for Eagle Scouts; the second annual Empty Bowls Event on Thursday, March 31st; an open house in early April and the annual Easter Banquet at HPU on Sunday, April 24th.
Aaron Pulley is a sophomore at Brownwood High School and has chosen a project for his Eagle Scouts that will benefit Good Samaritan Ministries. Pulley is organizing a canned food drive for the second weekend in March. On March 12th, Pulley will be at Brookshire’s grocery store collecting canned food items. During the weeks prior, there will be drop off locations at each State Farm Insurance locations and Coldwell Banker.
All canned goods collected during this drive will count as $1 per can toward the Feinstein Challenge.
Following that kick-off to the challenge, GSM will hold its second annual Empty Bowls Event, a project designed to raise awareness to the plight of hunger on both a local and global level.
At the Empty Bowls Event, for a $10 suggested donation, diners may enjoy a simple meal of soup, bread, and water in a hand-painted bowl. At the end of the meal, the diner is encouraged to take his or her bowl home as a reminder that there are many people with empty bowls and empty stomachs.
This year’s event will be held from 11:00am-7:00pm, Thursday, March 31st at the Depot.
Again this year, GSM’s annual Easter Banquet will be held Sunday, April 24th at the Beadel Dining Hall of the Mabee Center on the Howard Payne University Campus. More information about tickets and a full menu will be available closer to the event. Don Green and his Sodexho staff will prepare a full buffet for diners who will be served by GSM staff and board members. All proceeds will count toward the Feinstein Challenge.
