Feeding our hungry neighbors

My grandfather was chairman of a small town in northern Wisconsin back in the 1960s. Among his regular duties was to deliver federally-issued commodities once a month to families in need. I remember seeing boxes of powdered milk, cheese, peanut butter, flour, sugar and other staples neatly packed in the back of grandpa’s truck, ready to be dropped off. In the summer, I liked to tag along to help. I will never forget the look of gratitude on the recipient’s face as we handed them the supplies.

This experience taught me early on how important programs like this are in feeding our hungry neighbors. While the type of government assistance available has changed since the 1960s, the number of people needing help continues to grow. Just ask any food shelf manager and they will confirm demand for their services is on the rise. Donations, however, often tend to lag, making it hard to fully stock the items needed the most.

This is just one of the many reasons Ideal Credit Union and the Ideal Community Foundation have made it a priority to support local food shelves in the communities we serve. We collect nonperishable food donations year-round at all 6 Ideal CU locations. Twice a year, a group of Ideal volunteers spends a productive night at Second Harvest Heartland, packing pallets of food to help feed our hungry neighbors. We also accept and make monetary donations to local food shelves to help purchase other needed items. Every $1.00 donated gives the food shelf approximately $10.00 in spending power at Second Harvest and other hunger partners. Any donation, large or small, can help make a positive impact for those seeking assistance.

Food donation barrels can be found in the lobbies at all 6 Ideal CU locations. Monetary donations can also be made at any time at the teller line or through the Ideal Community Foundation at 8499 Tamarack Road, Woodbury MN 55125. You’ll also find donation barrels for gently used coats, which we collect year-round in support of the annual Salvation Army’s Coats for Kids drive.

Join us in making a difference in the lives of others. Thank you in advance for your generosity.