As of April 19, 2011, $72,427.67 has been raised for the Good Samaritan Ministries Feinstein Challenge: March Against Hunger Campaign.

The challenge continues through the end of April leaving only a couple of weeks to reach a goal of $100,000. Help may come in the form of monetary donations, canned or non-perishable food items. Food collected in drives may be counted as $1 per can or $1 per pound, whichever is more.

Some current needs in the food pantry include dry beans, rice, corn, green beans and peanut butter. Peanut butter has become increasingly difficult to get through the Food Bank in Abilene and it is used as a protein source for elderly clients, as well as in the Backpacks for Kids Program.

Every year, entrepreneur Alan Shawn Feinstein puts up $1 million of his own money as a challenge to food pantries across the country to raise money and awareness of hunger needs locally.

“It’s not a matching grant, but the more money we raise during the challenge, the greater portion of the Feinstein money we receive,” said Angelia Bostick, Executive Director of GSM.

All of the money raised locally, stays local to help hungry friends and neighbors in Brown County. And, unfortunately, that need is great.

In the month of March alone, 908 families came through the doors of GSM needing food staples. Those 908 families amounted to 2,293 individuals. That was up from 846 in 2010 and from 685 the year prior.

The numbers are steadily increasing, even in February when the GSM offices were closed for almost an entire week due to snow and ice, there were close to 100 more families this February than last year and almost 200 more families this January compared to the same month last year.

“We see families five days a week, all year long,” Bostick said. “Daily we see people who need groceries, who have lost jobs, who need help. And without the generous support of our community and our churches, we wouldn’t be able to help them.”

Many people like to give in November and December, during the seasons when it feels good to give, Bostick said. And, admittedly there are great needs during the holidays, but too often those needs don’t disappear as the new year begins.

For the past three years, the number of families who have come through the doors of GSM has steadily increased, many of those new families who have never had to ask for help before.

“Our community is incredible,” Bostick said. “We really are so blessed to live where we do because it never fails, no matter what the need; the people in this community come together. They give when it’s not easy to give to meet an ever growing need.”

With two weeks left in April, and therefore until the end of the annual Feinstein Challenge, GSM is still a ways from its goal of $100,000. All monetary donations and pledges need only be labeled specifically for the challenge and all canned goods can count as $1 per can. Drop donations off at 305 Clark Street during regular business hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or Wednesday from 1 to 5 p.m. Donations may be made via PayPal online at www.goodsambwd.org or by mail to Good Samaritan Ministries, P.O. Box 1136, Brownwood, TX 76804.

Also, GSM’s annual Easter Buffet will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, April 24 at the Beadel Dining Hall on the Howard Payne University Campus. An all-you-can-eat buffet will be prepared by Don Green and the Sodexo staff for $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 5 to 13.

Proceeds from the Easter Banquet will count toward the Feinstein Challenge. Last year, there were almost 900 people in attendance and GSM would love to see even more this year.

For more information about the Easter Buffet, the Feinstein Challenge or more information about GSM, call 643-2273.