MAPLE GROVE, Minn., May 03, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the month of March employees of TopLine Federal Credit Union exchanged donations of food and cash to benefit the Community Emergency Assistance Programs (CEAP) and Keystone Community Services food shelves for the chance to wear jeans on Fridays and Saturdays. When the program ended, TopLine’s 106 employees and many generous members had donated nearly 630 pounds of food and over $770 in cash to help restock the local agencies’ food shelves.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c1e11632-dd7a-41bb-844a-bbfb3f1a23d1
TopLine also sponsored and volunteered at CEAP’s “Feed the Need” event in late March at local grocery stores in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota to increase food collections. The event was a success and saw an increase in donations – 5,985 pounds of food – a 29% increase over 2016.
“Thank you to our TopLine employees and members who once again demonstrated their support to help our local families,” said Tom Smith, TopLine Federal Credit Union President and CEO. “Individuals and families who seek out food assistance each month continues to grow, and every contribution helps those in need in our communities.”
For more than 30 years, Minnesota FoodShare has coordinated the March Campaign, the annual grassroots food and fund drive that provides more than half the food distributed by 300 food shelves throughout the state. The March Campaign is the only statewide effort where every dollar donated goes directly to fighting hunger locally.
CEAP raised nearly $132,000 and over 187,000 pounds of food for families in need for Hennepin and Anoka counties. Keystone is also proud to share that they received nearly $78,000 and over 84,000 pounds in food donations to help Ramsey county families in crisis.
Each year during the month of March CEAP and Keystone participate in the statewide food and fund drive to restock pantry shelves. For donors’ efforts, a portion of every dollar and pound of food raised is matched by Minnesota FoodShare. And for every two dollars donated, the food shelves are able to purchase $25 in groceries.
TopLine employees were able to participate by donating money and/or food to TopLine Credit Union Foundation which then donates all proceeds to the drive in exchange for a “Denim Days” sticker, allowing them to wear jeans to work on Fridays and Saturdays during the four-week program.
CEAP (Community Emergency Assistance Programs), serving Hennepin and Anoka Counties, is a community-based, non-profit agency that partners with other resources to assist people in need. The mission of CEAP is to stabilize individuals and families in financial distress and to maximize their ability to live independently and with dignity. Visit www.CEAP.com to learn more.
Keystone Community Services is a community-based volunteer organization in St. Paul that helps thousands of low-income individuals and families in the East Metro Area. Keystone’s mission is to strengthen the capacity of individual and families to improve their quality of life. Visit www.keystoneservices.org to learn more.
TopLine Federal Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesota’s 13th largest, with assets of more than $400 million. Established in 1935, the not-for-profit cooperative offers a complete line of financial services, as well as auto and home insurance, from its five branch locations — in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth and in St. Paul’s Como Park — as well as by phone, mobile app and online at www.TopLinecu.com. Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott or Washington Counties and their immediate family members.