The Feinstein Foundation is again offering what has been a helpful carrot-and-stick program to raise money for nonprofit agencies that fight hunger.

The Rhode Island-based foundation is offering a dollar-for-dollar match for cash and check donations of at least $25 made to local agencies through April 30.

The foundation will match up to $1 million in total donations.

Once the top limit is reached, the foundation divides $1 million proportionately among the agencies that raised money during the drive. The more money an agency raises, the more it will get from the foundation.

The challenge grant always raises more than $1 million in donations. In the four years of offering the challenge grant, food agencies have collected more than $100 million in donations.

Locally, Community Food Warehouse of the Shenango Valley is again hoping to bring in a few extra dollars.

The Farrell-based warehouse collected $4,469 last year, and received $269 from the foundation.

The year before, the warehouse collected $11,600 locally and received $280 from the foundation.

"Anything we can get would be great," said warehouse executive director Michael Wright.

Other area agencies, such as Grace Food Pantry in Grove City and Lakeview Helping Hands, Stoneboro, also have participated.

The foundation extended this year’s donation period of eligibility by one month in hopes of drumming up more donations.

Agencies must send a report on their donations between May 4 and 8, and checks from the foundation will be mailed in June.

The foundation is headed by philanthropist Alan Shawn Feinstein, who is involved in a number of anti-hunger programs around the world. He founded the Center for a Hunger Free America at the University of Rhode Island and the Feinstein International Famine Center at Tufts University.

The foundation also is collecting e-mail signatures at its Web site -- www.feinsteinfoundation.com -- on a petition that will be used to try to pressure President Bush and Congress to make a commitment to ending hunger.