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 109 employees and many generous members had donated nearly 430 pounds of food and over $605 in cash to help restock the local agencies’ food shelves.
“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 $127,000 and over 234,285 pounds of food which equates to 702,614 meals to be enjoyed by families in Hennepin and Anoka counties. Keystone is also proud to share that they received nearly $104,000 and over 21,000 pounds in food donations to help Ramsey county families in crisis. In 2017, Keystone’s three food shelves and Foodmobile distributed 2.4 million pounds of food to 23,869 individuals.
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.