LEEDS – For the sixth straight year, the Alan Shawn Feinstein Foundation in Rhode Island has pledged to divide $1 million among nonprofit agencies such as RCAM who help fight hunger.

Rural Community Action Ministry, a private, nonprofit organization, has provided services to vulnerable rural families in 13 towns – Canton, Hartford, Buckfield, Sumner, Livermore, Wayne, Monmouth, Wales, Litchfield, Sabattus, Turner, Leeds and Greene – since 1970.

RCAM addresses the issues of homelessness, homelessness prevention, hunger, hunger prevention and basic well-being.

Participating agencies such as RCAM share in the $1 million proportionate to their project fund-raising. The nationwide challenge to raise money and donate food items ends April 30.

This year, schools collecting food items for local anti-hunger agencies are eligible for a $1,000 cash award and national recognition.

Area schools such as Turner Elementary School have taken up the challenge. The food drive in Turner has gone fairly well, said Joyce Basting, a fourth-grade teacher. Students have collected about 1,000 food items, she said. The school’s food drive concludes Friday, Basting said.

“I think it’s very important,” she said of the drive. “There’s a lot of people unemployed and having difficulty at this time. It’s getting out to people that really need the help.”

RCAM has been picking up the food from the school, Basting said.