RICHLAND, WASH. (September 1, 2021) ‒ Gesa, a community-chartered credit union, just announced they have partnered with Food Lifeline and Second Harvest in honor of Hunger Action Month. For the entire month of September, the three organizations are working together to raise awareness about food insecurity and mobilize the public to take action on the issue of hunger in the Northwest.

Food Lifeline is a non-profit organization that provides food to more than 300 food banks, shelters, and meal programs across Western Washington, which equates to providing 134,000 meals every day.

“We are grateful for our partnership with Gesa Credit Union. Hunger Action Month is a time to stand against hunger by sharing, volunteering and supporting the work we are doing together,” said Ryan Scott, Chief Development Officer at Food Lifeline. “We are proud of our shared commitment to building communities where everyone has access to nutritious, culturally relevant foods.”

Similarly, Second Harvest is a non-profit organization that provides 280 food pantries and meal sites to more than 55,000 people each week in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

“Our friends at Gesa walk the walk,” said Jason Clark, President and CEO of Second Harvest. “Whether helping us distribute food to veterans or sorting fresh produce, Gesa’s sponsorship of Hunger Action Month is just one highlight of a year-round commitment to support the communities where the credit union operates.” 

Gesa is the presenting sponsor for both organizations and will donate $25,000 to each organization for a total of $50,000 in monetary contributions. Gesa will also host food drives at each of their branch locations and offer team members safe, socially distant volunteer opportunities that follow the Washington State Governor’s guidance for all pandemic related policies.

“Gesa is proud to support Food Lifeline and Second Harvest in their campaigns to raise awareness about hunger and to safely mobilize the public to take action on an issue that impacts communities across the state,” said Angie Brotherton, Assistant Vice President of Community Relations for Gesa Credit Union. “We’re happy to take part in the incredible work that both Food Lifeline and Second Harvest do, and we are grateful that our team’s efforts can help make a difference in the lives of many individuals across the state who are experiencing food insecurity.

For more information about Food Lifeline, visit their website https://foodlifeline.org/. To learn more about Second Harvest, visit https://2-harvest.org/. For more information about Gesa Credit Union’s involvement in the community, visit https://www.gesa.com/community.

Gesa Credit Union is Washington’s second largest credit union with over $4.7 billion in assets and is over 265,000 members strong. Gesa is a full-service financial institution that offers a complete array of consumer, mortgage, and business products and services. Headquartered in Richland, Washington, Gesa operates 27 branches across Washington and supports 12 student-operated high school branches. Gesa’s commitment to local communities includes support for Junior Achievement, the American Red Cross, annual youth scholarships, and free financial and educational resources available to members and the general public. For more information visit gesa.com.