After raising more than $25,500 last year, the Edwardsburg Food Pantry matching gift challenge is back.

Thanks to an anonymous donor who has offered a matching gift of up to $10,000, the Edwardsburg Food Pantry is challenging residents to help raise money to support the work being done in the community.

“The donor will make all monetary donations from individuals given directly to the Edwardsburg Food Pantry in the month of January only,” said Laura Jamrog.

Checks must be made payable to EFP, 24832 U.S Highway 12, Edwardsburg, MI 49112.

Checks may also be dropped off at the pantry, located in the basement of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church.

The pantry is open from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Our Lady of the Lake, the Edwardsburg Presbyterian Church and Hope United Methodist are the three churches that have joined forces to run the operation with the help of volunteers from throughout the community.

Organizers say the food pantry started on a much smaller scale many years ago and continued to grow.

It expanded in 2010 to its current location at Our Lady and incorporated in order to receive non-profit status at the Edwardsburg Emergency Fund.

The food pantry is a tax exempt organization.