Wayne Allen | Daily Times

Preston Hall as he packs food boxes for Pleasant Valley Community of Christ.

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Wayne Allen

PDT Staff Writer

This is 16th year Alan Feinstein of the Feinstein Foundation will be dividing $1 million to food pantries and hunger fighting agencies across the United States.

Participating agencies take part in what it called the ‘Feinstein Challenge.’

“Between March 1 and April 30 we can accept donation and pledges that we can count towards the challenge. Donations can be accepted in the form of cash, check, pledges and food items. Food times are valued at one dollar per item or pound. If someone donates a two-pound can of something, it can be counted as a $2 donation,” said Kathy Deemer, Community of Christ Pleasant Valley Branch food pantry coordinator. “The goal of the program is to increase awareness of hunger in our community.”

Deemer said this is the fifth year the church has participated in the challenge.

According to www.feinsteinfoundation.org, “In the past 12 consecutive years since Mr. Feinstein has offered it, more than 3,000 participating agencies nationwide have used it to raise more than $1.25 billion. It has become the most successful ongoing campaign to fight hunger ever.”

Area participating organizations in 2012 included, Potter’s House Ministries, Inc. - Sciotoville which received a grant of $281.71, Community of Christ - Pleasant Valley Branch McDermott which received a grant of $258.33, St. Peter’s Wheelersburg which received a grant of $255.66, St. Vincent de Paul General Store - New Boston which received a grant of $258.38, St. Monica’s Church, New Boston which received a grant of $254.77 and St. Mary’s - Portsmouth which received a grant of $259.85.

Also participating was Our Lady of Sorrows of West Portsmouth, which received a grant of $254.29, Holy Redeemer of Portsmouth which received a grant of $179.00 and Notre Dame High School of Portsmouth which received a grant of $250.83.

For more information about the Feinstein Challenge, visit www.feinsteinfoundation.org.

Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 228, or tallen@civitasmedia.com.