Hi! My name is Deepa Venkatraman. I’m a resident of Montville and an active community organizer. I’m raising money for a cause that’s important to all of us.

The Montville Kiwanis Foundation, a NJ nonprofit, runs a local food pantry that does incredible work, and I’ve seen firsthand how much of an impact they make in the lives of others. In August 2025 alone, the pantry recorded 167 household visits supporting 517 individuals, with 10 new household sign-ups. This reflects a growth of over 200%, as many individuals are losing their benefits and turning to the pantry for help.

Unfortunately, the pantry is now facing an additional strain: loss of funding. The USDA has ended funding for the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program. The State Food Purchase Program (SFPP) will conclude this calendar year due to cuts. This means LFPA product deliveries will stop after October 2025, and SFPP items will no longer be available after December 2025.

Read more about the pantry here: https://www.montvillekiwanis.org/food-pantry-mkfp

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With Diwali around the corner, this season of celebration is also an opportunity to spread joy by helping others and teaching our children the true impact of giving. By standing united as a community to support our community, we can honor Diwali, the festival of lights, in the most meaningful way—by helping an organization that brings light and hope to so many.

Every contribution, big or small, makes a real difference. Even just a few dollars can help move this mission forward and reach those who need it most. As a registered nonprofit, donations to the Montville Kiwanis Foundation are tax deductible.

We’re so grateful to Drs. Sunil and Urmila Shah, who have generously offered to match all donations up to $1,000. This means every dollar you give will be doubled, making twice the impact for the Montville Kiwanis Food Pantry.

✨ If you prefer, you can donate directly here: https://www.montvillekiwanis.org/donate

If you can’t donate right now, sharing this fundraiser is also an amazing way to help. Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity—it truly means the world to our community.