Article

Video transcript

Elan joined credit card partner Wakota Federal Credit Union (Wakota) to volunteer at Neighbors, Inc. (Neighbors) as part of the Elan Charitable Giving program. During the event, volunteers packed 100 emergency food boxes and surprised Neighbors with an additional $5,000 contribution, totaling $17,500, to help fund all their work to end hunger.

Charles D. Thompson, President and CEO at Neighbors, Inc. stated, “[This donation] helps us provide essential services to our neighbors in need. We are commemorating 50 years of serving our community this year. It is because of community partners like Elan and Wakota that we can continue this important work.”

Each emergency box contains enough shelf-stable food for two people as a short-term solution while they await a food shelf appointment. Boxes contain easy-to-prepare items such as pasta, cereal, peanut butter, canned vegetables, rice, and meat (added at pick-up). Neighbors estimates the cost of one box purchased at market rate would total $26, making each box a significant help in the lives of those in urgent need. 

In addition to their food shelf, Neighbors provides clothing and essential home items through their Clothes Closet Thrift Store, runs a holiday gift program, and offers guidance through their Financial Empowerment Program. The organization, celebrating 50 years of service, supports low-income community members in Inver Grove Heights, South St. Paul, West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Mendota, Sunfish Lake, and Lilydale areas of Minnesota.

“A lot of our members are people of modest means who use Neighbors’ services. We’ve seen and heard firsthand from members on how Neighbors was able to help them through hard times and we know that this monetary donation definitely helped Neighbors provide these services to them,” shared Amanda Kissner, Director of Community Affairs at Wakota Federal Credit Union.

The Elan Charitable Giving program has distributed $720,000 to nonprofits throughout the United States on behalf of 55 credit union partners.

Watch the video to learn more about the partnership between Neighbors, Inc. and Wakota Federal Credit Union, and visit www.elancharitablegiving.com for more information on the Elan Charitable Giving program.