On November 1st, to kick off the Gowrie Challenge to benefit SSKP, Gowrie Group, a division of Risk Strategies, made a $60,000 donation to the SSKP. The goal of the 2022 Gowrie Challenge is to raise $200,000 before the end of the 2022 year. To help reach this important goal, Gowrie Group is challenging local businesses, members of the community, and shoreline friends to come together to help support the SSKP and our neighbors.

Giving to the Gowrie Challenge means your donation will be doubled to help our shoreline neighbors in need. Gowrie Group’s donation of $60,000 includes $30,000 which is a personal pledge from Carter Gowrie. Six local companies have again stepped forward as Partner Sponsors: LC Doane Company, Tower Labs, Lenny & Joe’s Fish Tale, Sound Rigging, BrandTech Scientific, and Essex Financial. The Partner Sponsors provide an additional $40,000 in matching funds, bringing the total available matching funds to an impressive $100,000 in donations which will be doubled dollar-for-dollar to help our neighbors.

Since the Gowrie Challenge began in 2004, Gowrie’s efforts have raised over $2.4 million to benefit SSKP. Carter Gowrie, Gowrie Group’s Founder, shared, “Food insecurity continues to rise on the Connecticut shoreline. The SSKP continues to need our support which is why we are once again giving a $60,000 donation to launch this year’s challenge. Together, I know we can reach our goal of $200,000 and support the SSKP’s mission of feeding those in need along the shoreline.”

Hunger exists on the Connecticut Shoreline, and the long lasting COVID-19 pandemic has driven the need for food services to unprecedented levels. The rising cost of groceries along with the increased cost of many basic services, is resulting in more of our neighbors experiencing or being at risk of food insecurity. The increase in demand for food services along with the rising cost of groceries has greatly impacted the SSKP’s ability to purchase the necessary food to feed our neighbors in need. As of the end of October, the SSKP had served over 1.3 million pounds of food, which equates to over one million meals. The need to provide food services is acute and critical, and the Shoreline Soup Kitchen & Pantries needs the financial support of the community to meet the continued demand.

Amy Hollis, Executive Director of the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries said, “We are grateful to every member of the Gowrie community for their amazing support; first during the pandemic, and now as rising food prices create a new challenge, both for us and for those we serve. Everyone at Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries is truly thankful for the generous support of the Gowrie Challenge.”

Gowrie Group’s parent company, Risk Strategies, also believes strongly in the need to give back and support local communities. The Risk Strategies Foundation, which also supports the Gowrie Challenge, encourages all Risk Strategies’ employees to actively participate in charitable activities to support the communities in which they live and work.

HOW TO DONATE TO THE GOWRIE CHALLENGE:

Donations can be made online at: donatenow.networkforgood.org/SSKP (select “Gowrie Challenge” as the designation)

Donations can be mailed to: The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries, Attn: Gowrie Challenge, PO Box 804, Essex, CT 06426 (note “Gowrie Challenge” on the check).