Epstein Humanitarian Fund Issues Newtown Food Drive Challenge

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — The Gene and Marlene Epstein Humanitarian Fund has announced that it will match up to $10,000 in monetary donations made to the Wrightstown Food Cupboard as part of Saturday's Newtown Rotary Club's Fall Food Drive at McCaffrey's Market.

"As soon as I read the article about our Wrightstown Food Cupboard, which coordinates with our local churches, I wanted to help," said Gene Epstein who manages the foundation with his wife, Marlene. "The average person has no idea of the difficulties that many of our neighbors
experience when it comes to paying utility bills and food insecurity. I ask everyone that can help to please do. It can change a person’s life for the better."

Members of the Newtown Rotary Club will be stationed at the entrances to McCaffrey's from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. collecting donations of food and accepting monetary donations for the Wrightstown Food Cupboard and as part of the Epstein Food Drive Challenge.

"We'll collect money and food at the door but if you can't make it on Saturday you can go online until next Saturday and make a donation through the Rotary Club's Paypal account," said Rotarian Paul Salvatore.

Anyone making a donation online should indicate "Food Drive" as the reason for the donation. They can also send a check to the Newtown Rotary Club at P.O. Box 123, Wrightstown 18943.

"There's a real need for food donations. And with inflation, the need has gotten worse. People can't afford to buy everything so they're making choices between cereal and diapers and soup and toilet paper," said Salvatore. "They can't afford everything because they don't have the money. That's why we're seeing more and more people going to food banks to supplement what they can't afford to buy."

Through the Epstein Food Drive Challenge, every monetary donation made toward the Wrightstown Food Cupboard will be matched - dollar-for-dollar - by the Epstein Foundation.

"The great thing about this challenge is that it will allow the Wrightstown Food Cupboard to buy items that they don't have or are running low on," said Salvatore, who personally thanks Gene Epstein and his humanitarian fund for stepping forward to make a donation.

"Gene loves to give and he loves to help people," said Salvatore. "But he also wants others who can afford to give to also make a donation. That's why he issues these challenges. And 100 percent of the money will be going to the food cupboard."