UPDATE: Attleboro Council of Churches Receives $8,100 to Feed the Hungry

The has $8,100 to buy food to help feed Attleboro's hungry thanks to support from the community, a grocery store and a foundation. 

It has been an exciting few days for the Council of Churches who were notified that they will receive $5,000 from the Lenny Zakim Fund, a fund which provides financial support to grassroots organizations, and $3,100 from Stop & Shop.

"This has been a very difficult year for many people living in the Attleboro area, and the Attleboro Area Council of Churches has seen a tremendous increase in the number of people requesting help with basic necessities such as food, shelter, fuel and clothing," Council Board Member, Kathleen Wade said. "Our two Family Cafes have been deliberately scheduled for the last week of the month since that is frequently the time when family resources are stretched thin."

As funding increases, so will expansion of the program, Wade said.

"Kat Wright, the executive director of the Council, envisions the Cafes as safe, nurturing places to provide families with educational materials and access to other resources available in the community," she added. 

Through its national Food for Friends campaign and with help from its customers in Attleboro, was able to provide the $3,100 donation to the Council of Churches. 

“We are overwhelmed by the generosity and support from our customers and associates for Food for Friends,” said Suzi Robinson, a spokesperson for Stop & Shop. "Even a tough economy could not dampen the spirit of giving that exists with the associates and customers in our communities.”

The supermarket chain's program, now in its 21st year, set a new record when it raised more than $2 million in 2010 for its annual campaign. Each $1, $3 and $5 donation from customers was displayed on paper turkey cutouts and hung in the store.

Donations from customers accounted for 90 percent of the $2 million and the supermarket contributed $500 to the effort in each of its 392 stores.