The Enhance Hamilton County Foundation (EHCF) announced that they recently received a second donation of $10,000 by the same anonymous donor from 2020 to benefit the food pantries throughout Hamilton County. 

The donor stated they were pleased with the amount of money raised to benefit the food pantries throughout Hamilton County during the last Food Pantry Challenge and they wanted to do it again because the need is not going away anytime soon. 

EHCF’s Board agreed to add $2,000 to the anonymous donor funds to make the challenge to raise an additional $12,000. 

The Food Pantry Challenge will run through the end of October 2021 and the goal is to raise at least $12,000 with donations being matched dollar for dollar by the anonymous donor and EHCF. Checks will be distributed monthly to the local food pantries beginning in June. “Every donation will be matched dollar for dollar up to the total matching funds of $12,000. This provides us with the opportunity to bring in a potential of $24,000 to assist the food pantries throughout Hamilton County to keep their shelves stocked for those families that are requiring some additional assistance,” said Darcy Swon, Enhance Hamilton County Foundation Development Director.

“We were very happy with the amount of local support that came in for the Food Pantry Challenge last year that raised $24,750 to support the local food pantries,” said Swon. “When we received the second $10,000 check, we were very honored that the Foundation was trusted to run the challenge again and that the anonymous donor was wanting to continue to make a positive impact throughout our community by providing these much needed funds.”

To participate in this Food Pantry Challenge, send your check to: Darcy Swon, Enhance Hamilton County Foundation, 501 Bank Street, Suite 1, Webster City, IA 50595. Checks should be made out to the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation with the name of the food pantry to be supported listed in the memo line. If no food pantry is indicated, the donation will be split evenly among the local food pantries. Cash donations are also welcome. Donations will be distributed monthly to support the food pantries. Donations will be received up through November 1, 2021.

The food pantries that will be supported include: Upper Des Moines Opportunity (Webster City); Trinity Lutheran Church Food Pantry (Webster City); St. Paul Lutheran Church Food Pantry (Webster City); Asbury/ACE Food Pantry (Webster City); The Lord’s Cupboard/Bethesda Lutheran Church (Jewell); and the Stratford Food Pantry (Stratford).

For more information on the Food Pantry Challenge or on the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation, please feel free to contact Darcy Swon, Development Director, at 515-835-0437, or at dswon@enhancehamiltoncounty.org.