Dayton community partners with Food Pantry; takes the Feinstein Challenge

DAYON, Nev. — Dozens of local groups have taken the challenge to fight hunger here this spring. When the Dayton Food Pantry issued an open invitation to partner with them for The Feinstein $1 Million Dollar Challenge to fight hunger, dozens of individuals, businesses, schools, nonprofits and clubs stepped up to help.

Mary Piper, coordinator for the local Challenge, explained, “If groups or individuals donate non-perishable food items or money to Dayton Food Pantry in March and April, the Feinstein Foundation will add funds. The more donations we receive, the larger our slice of the pie will be.”

Schools, Churches, and Businesses All Pitch In: All of the schools in Dayton have joined the challenge, including Dayton High School leadership, which is challenging Fernley High School in a contest to see who can collect the most donations for their local food banks.

As always, many businesses, churches and community groups such as Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts are also helping. Pioneer Crossing has pledged to match up to $5 worth of nonperishable food (please bring your receipt) or cash for the Dayton Food Pantry with $5 in “FREE Play.” (Must be 21 years of age to use “FREE Play”). And last week, Curves of Dayton waived all sign up fees in exchange for a bag of groceries for the Food Pantry.

Donations of food, cash, checks and pledges received from March 1st to April 30th will be counted for the Feinstein Challenge. You can also find conveniently located donation barrels, boxes or front office donation envelopes at the following locations in Dayton:

— Dayton Floral
— Curves (140 Douglas St, Dayton)
— Pioneer Crossing (see above for details)
— 1st & 10 Bar and Grill
— The Pizza Factory (Dayton)
— Dayton Elementary School: contact is counselor Tanya Edmondson
— Sutro Elementary: contact is counselor Bill Bruni
— Riverview Elementary: Contact is counselor Marie Dufresne
— Dayton High School: contact is DHS Leadership group
— Dayton Intermediate School
— Dayton Valley Branch Library
— Dollar Tree (Dayton)
— Calvary Baptist Church
— Dayton Senior Center: you’ll find a barrel, and if you bring a canned food item an extra BINGO card will be given on Monday and Thursday
— Nevada East 50 Bar
— Lyon County Utilities
— Nevada Bank
— River Vista Gym
— St. Anne’s Church
— Calvalry Chapel
— Center Point Church

Alan Feinstein is a nationally known philanthropist and humanitarian whose past 13 challenges to fight hunger resulted in over $1 billion for thousands of agencies nationwide. Last year the Dayton Pantry received nearly $1,000 for the challenge thanks to extra food drives by local businesses, nonprofits, clubs and schools.

Dayton Food Pantry is open for emergency food needs and to accept donations Monday through Friday from 10am to 4pm at 4 Enterprise Way on Highway 50. Their normal distribution days for commodities will be on the following Saturdays from noon to 4pm at Sutro Elementary School in Dayton at 190 Dayton Village Parkway: April 16 and May 21.

For more information about how to get involved with the Feinstein Challenge in Dayton, contact Challenge coordinator Mary Piper at (775) 230-1621. For more information about the Dayton Food Pantry, call director Freida Carbery at (775) 246- 7834.