Envision Credit Union (Envision) has recently announced the launch of a new initiative in partnership with Second Harvest Big Bend: "Envision No Hunger." This campaign will allow the credit union to further support the food bank's efforts with a pledge to match up to $30,000 of all donations to the Backpack Program. The Backpack Program provides at-risk students with a bag full of food meant to cover all nutritional needs over the weekend, so they can return to school each week ready to learn. Envision has always supported this program through its annual Swipe for Schools initiative which is funded with 5 cents of every swipe of an Envision member’s debit card. This year, the credit union is encouraging local community organizations to join them in donating to ensure that the health and stability of all students continues to be prioritized.
"Envision's core values are built upon supporting the education community, and our organization is proud to fund programs that directly impact the lives of young people," said Darryl Worrell, President and CEO of Envision. "We recognize that the future lies in our children's hands and understand that students who have three meals a day and proper food over the weekend will be able to thrive in the classroom come Monday morning. We are grateful for the work Second Harvest does within the Big Bend community and encourage others to join us in supporting the Backpack Program so they can continue providing nutritious meals to students and families in need."
The “Envision No Hunger” campaign will run through July, with the credit union pledged to match up to $30,000 in donations, for a total of $60,000 that will directly support this program and the community. The Backpack Program currently provides more than 1,300 bags of food to children throughout the Big Bend region each week. Envision hopes to increase this number to ensure more students can return to school adequately fed, benefitting their overall health, as well as academic performance and attendance. Since this program does not receive federal funding, support from the community will play a crucial role in its continued success.
“The Backpack Program supports the children in our community and works to ensure that kids do not have to live with the worry of not having enough food to eat,” said Monique Ellsworth, CEO of Second Harvest Big Bend. “We know that nutrition is essential for the healthy development of a child, and it is our priority to ensure all students have the necessary food needed to grow and thrive. The number of children we can feed is directly dependent upon the amount of money raised, and we are extremely grateful for Envision’s donation and continued support.” For more information about Envision Credit Union or to become a member, please visit www.envisioncu.com. To donate to Second Harvest of the Big Bend’s Backpack Program, visit www.fightinghunger.org/