Parish Cupboard hopes 13 is lucky year for donations

Date: 4/14/2010

April 14, 2010.

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



WEST SPRINGFIELD -- The 13th annual Feinstein Foundation $1 Million Challenge is underway and Parish Cupboard Executive Director Martha Tighe is hoping 13 will prove a lucky number.

Each year, the Feinstein Foundation of Cranston, R.I., challenges non-profit hunger agencies across the United States to raise as much money possible from March 1 to April 30, and the more they raise, the more they'll receive from the foundation. The Parish Cupboard could receive up to $40,000 from this year's event, which will provide emergency food assistance to those in Agawam and West Springfield.

"This is an absolutely exciting and wonderful challenge," Tighe said, adding that her organization began its Cash for the Cupboard campaign on March 1 in conjunction with the $1 Million Challenge.

"We'll be very happy if we [raise] $35,000," she said of the Cash for the Cupboard Campaign. Tighe noted that figure is congruent with past year's earnings.

She explained the funds will be deposited into the Cupboard's general account for operational costs, including salaries and bills.

According to information released by the Feinstein Foundation's CEO Alan Shawn Feinstein, he gives away $1 million of his own money each year "because I believe each of us was put here on earth to do what we can to help those in need ... this has become the greatest grass roots campaign ever to fight hunger in our country ... my money started his campaign but it is you who will help decide how many needy people in your city or town will be fed this year. All that will matter to us someday is what we did while we were here to help those who needed us."

The Feinstein Foundation was established in 1991 to "help end hunger in America."

Donations to the Cash for the Cupboard campaign may be mailed to the Parish Cupboard, 1023 Main St., West Springfield, MA 01089. For more information about the Parish Cupboard or to make a food donation, contact Tighe at 734-7969 or e-mail parishcupboard@aol.com.

Additional information about the Feinstein Foundation's $1 Million Challenge can be found at www.feinsteinfoundation.org.