Veridian Credit Union has pledged $100,000 to organizations and events that are fighting local food insecurity across Iowa; Omaha, Nebraska and Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The funds will be divided among area food banks, local pantries and events or programs offering free Thanksgiving meals.
“Like many credit unions, Veridian was founded on the need to support our communities and the people in them,” said Veridian President and CEO Renee Christoffer. “The number of people facing food insecurity in our communities is growing, and it’s important that we support those working to address it – especially this holiday season.”
Recipient food banks and pantries include:
- Food Bank of Iowa – Des Moines, Iowa
- Food Bank for the Heartland – Omaha, Nebraska
- Northeast Iowa Food Bank – Waterloo, Iowa
- Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP) – Hiawatha, Iowa
- People Reaching Out to People (PROP) – Eden Prairie, Minnesota
- Coralville Food Pantry – Coralville, Iowa
- Plentiful Pantry – Oelwein, Iowa
- Independence Food Pantry – Independence, Iowa
- Bremer County Food Pantry – Waverly, Iowa
In addition to feeding an estimated 1,300 people at Veridian’s 44th annual Mike & Leona Adams Thanksgiving Dinner in Waterloo later this month, a portion of the funds committed will be used to support similar free Thanksgiving meal events and programs, including:
- The Salvation Army Thanksgiving Meal – Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Heartland Hope Mission Thanksgiving Pantry – Omaha, Nebraska
- Families Forward Thanksgiving Table – Des Moines, Iowa
Veridian employees also expect to serve more than 380 volunteer hours across the four events, providing an estimated 11,300 meals.