TopLine Credit Union members and employees brighten up the holidays
TopLine’s 19th annual holiday Toy Drive benefits local communities
MAPLE GROVE, MN (January 16, 2018) — Avenues for Homeless Youth, Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP) and Keystone Community Services benefited by receiving donations from TopLine Federal Credit Union’s 19th annual Gratitude Tree Holiday Toy Drive held during the months of November and December. TopLine members and employees generously donated toys, cash and gift cards to brighten up the holidays and bring joy to many children this holiday season.
Employees were able to participate by donating toys and money in exchange for a “Denim Days” sticker, allowing them to wear jeans to work on specific days during the eight-week program. TopLine members could leave unwrapped gifts for children in need under the “Gratitude Tree” at any TopLine location, and then choose an ornament from the tree as our way of thanking them for their generosity.
“TopLine is committed to helping our communities, and a special thanks goes out to our employees and members who were so generous this season,” said Tom Smith, TopLine Federal Credit Union President and CEO. “We were able to donate nearly 400 toys along with over $920 in gift cards and cash to our charitable partners to help make the holidays a little brighter for families in our communities.”
Avenues for Homeless Youth Holiday Gift Program provides youth with a sense of belonging and a caring, safe environment. They were able to fulfill wish lists for 60 youth, ages 16-24, this holiday season.
Through CEAP’s Toys of Joy Holiday Program, families were able to select three toys and stocking stuffers for each child. CEAP was able to serve 748 families with more than 2,320 children; items included toys, winter clothing, stocking stuffers and blankets.
Keystone Community Services hosted a Blanket Drive and was able to distribute 350 blankets to families this holiday season.
Since 2002, TopLine Federal Credit Union employees and members have been involved in several programs each year to benefit CEAP and Keystone. In addition to the annual toy donations these efforts have included drives for children’s back-to-school supplies, helping with food and clothing donations for families in need, and volunteering for Meals on Wheels.
Avenues for Homeless Youth provides emergency shelter, short-term housing and supportive services for homeless youth in a safe and nurturing environment. There are over 6,000 homeless youth in Minnesota each night. Avenues shelters in Brooklyn Park and Minneapolis help over 300 youth. Visit www.avenuesforyouth.org to learn more.
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’s 19th Annual Holiday Toy Drive Benefits Local Communities
About TopLine Credit Union Foundation
TopLine Credit Union Foundation a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is dedicated to providing members with an array of financial education opportunities and counseling for members of all ages, awarding scholarships, contributing to community charitable organizations and sponsoring other community give-back efforts. Since inception in 2015, TopLine Credit Union Foundation has given out $139,500 in scholarship monies to assist with the affordability of post-secondary education. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. For further information visit www.TopLinecu.com/foundation, email Foundation@TopLinecu.com, call 763-391-9494, or stop by any branch location or write to: 9353 Jefferson Hwy, Maple Grove, MN 55369. Federal Tax ID # is 46-4335752.
