The Mission Board of First Congregational United Church of Christ recently presented a check for $1,332 to Darcy Swon, Development Director of the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation to support of the local food pantries as part of the current Food Pantry Challenge. On June 18, 2021, the church hosted a Brownie Sundae Drive-Through for free-will donations. “We were delighted to be able to generate $2,664, thanks to the Enhance Hamilton County Foundations matching campaign to benefit the local food pantries,” said Marjorie Groves, Mission Board member.

“Our food pantries will be so happy to receive the financial support,” commented Swon. She said the local food pantry recipients are the Lord’s Cupboard (Jewell), Stratford Food Pantry and Upper Des Moines Opportunity, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, and Asbury United Methodist Church/All Cultures Equal (Webster City).

“Making a charitable donation to support the food pantries right now is a great way to double the value of your donation due to our Food Pantry Challenge that is underway through October,” said Swon. Swon added that only $6,268 is left to meet the $12,000 match goal. “If you or your organization is looking to make a donation for a match, you will want to consider doing it sooner than later as the response this year has been amazing right out of the gate. Charitable donors, such as the First Congregational Church, have donated almost half of the match goal in the first month.”

An anonymous donor provided a gift of $10,000 for the match program and the Foundation donated $2,000 for a total of $12,000. The goal is to raise another $12,000 so that a total of $24,000 can be donated to food pantries throughout Hamilton County when the Challenge is completed the end of October.For more information on the Challenge, contact Swon at 515.835.0437 or via email at dswon@enhancehamiltoncounty.org.