Gesa has partnered with Lewis County Footsteps of Hope to support its “Backpack Buddies” program at Centralia High School. As the exclusive financial institution sponsor, the credit union has donated $39,000 to provide students facing food insecurity with meal packs to take home over the weekend.
Centralia High School serves nearly 1,000 students, and many rely on free or reduced-price lunch during the week. The Backpack Buddies program helps close the weekend food gap by providing backpacks filled with shelf-stable items such as pasta, applesauce, beans, tortillas, peanut butter, crackers, tuna, granola bars, and canned soups. The first set of meal packs was assembled earlier this school year and will continue to be distributed weekly throughout June 2026.
“When we learned about the incredible work that Footsteps of Hope is doing through their Backpack Buddies program, we knew we wanted to help strengthen that mission,” said Brandon Allison, Vice President of Community Impact. “Food insecurity is an issue that no student should have to face, yet it remains a significant barrier for many. By offering meals anonymously, programs like these can make a tremendous difference in a young person’s ability to stay focused, confident, and ready to learn.”
“Lewis County Footsteps of Hope is grateful for Gesa Credit Union partnering with us to help students facing food insecurities,” said Paula Burrows, President of Lewis County Footsteps of Hope. “Gesa is sponsoring Centralia High School for 50 students, providing weekend food backpacks for this entire school year, and is impacting our students in big ways. I am hearing from school leadership that students are having better attendance and academics. Hunger is real in our local communities. Together we are bringing encouragement, hope, and confidence to our students.”
This partnership is the latest reflection of Gesa’s commitment to Southwest Washington. Through initiatives like its co-branded Affinity Debit Card with Centralia College, the credit union continues to expand community programs and educational resources in the region following its acquisition of Security State Bank earlier this year.