Amid COVID-19 outbreak, donation from Point Breeze helps First Fruit Farm build greenhouse to feed the hungry
HUNT VALLEY, MD (April 8, 2020) — Point Breeze Credit Union has made a $30,000 donation to First Fruits Farm, a non-profit Christian ministry dedicated to providing fresh, nutritious produce to those experiencing hunger throughout the Mid-Atlantic region – a situation that has become even more critical given the current coronavirus outbreak.
Since 2004, thousands of First Fruits Farm volunteers have helped to harvest more than 16.5 million pounds of fruits and vegetables to share with local food banks, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and other food providers.
“Point Breeze Credit Union’s generous donation has completely funded construction of a new greenhouse, which we are now fully utilizing. The 6,000-square-foot, tech-savvy greenhouse will enable First Fruits Farm to provide thousands of pounds of fresh food to people in need throughout the entire year,” says Jenn Gillispie, Chief Administrative Officer at First Fruits Farm.
According to Gillispie, the new greenhouse is expected to produce three tomato harvests this year alone. Overall, First Fruits Farm projects it will produce more than 50,000 pounds of tomatoes with the addition of the greenhouse in 2020 – more than double last year’s total – in response to rising demand among organizations providing food for the hungry.
“We are honored to partner with First Fruits Farm in its efforts to help feed the less fortunate among us who are experiencing hunger,” says Point Breeze President and CEO Bernard McLaughlin. “We are amazed at the fine work and dedication of First Fruits Farm, and we are excited that we were able to fund the construction of their new greenhouse. It is a gift that will keep on giving each year to feed those in need, particularly during these uncertain times.”
Now celebrating its 85th year in business, Point Breeze Credit Union has a long history of helping organizations like First Fruits Farm, such as the Maryland Food Bank.
Point Breeze recently opened the redesigned lobby at its Hunt Valley office, which has been undergoing extensive renovations over the past several months. The remodeled lobby represents the first phase of an extensive renovation and expansion project which will double the size of Point Breeze’s Hunt Valley facility, adding a new two-story, 20,000-square-foot addition to the existing 20,000-square-foot building in order to better meet the needs of its members and accommodate the credit union’s rapid membership growth.
To support First Fruits Farm or other organizations providing food to the hungry, visit https://www.firstfruitsfarm.org.
About Point Breeze Credit Union
Point Breeze Credit Union is one of Maryland’s largest credit unions, with over 63,000 members and approximate assets of $914 million. A full-service financial institution that is member-owned and not-for-profit, Point Breeze offers easy, reliable banking through offices in Hunt Valley, Rosedale, Bel Air, Westminster, and Owings Mills, as well as more than 5,600 Shared Branch locations and 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs nationwide. Membership in Point Breeze is open to individuals who work, worship, or volunteer within 20 miles of a Point Breeze location. Point Breeze is federally insured by NCUA and an Equal Housing Opportunity lender. For more information, visit www.pbcu.com.
For more information about The Humane Society of Harford County, visit: www.harfordshelter.org
For more information about Pathfinders for Autism, visit: www.pathfindersforautism.org
For more information about The Ulman Foundation, visit: www.ulmanfoundation.org
For more information about the Rosedale Volunteer Fire Company, visit: www.rosedalevfd.com
For more information about Penn-Mar Human Services, visit: www.penn-mar.org
