MAPLE GROVE, MINN. — January 16, 2018 — Avenues for Homeless Youth, Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP) and Keystone Community Services benefited by receiving donations from TopLine Federal Credit Union’s 19 th annual Gratitude Tree Holiday Toy Drive held during the months of November and December. TopLine members and employees generously donated toys, cash and gift cards to brighten up the holidays and bring joy to many children this holiday season. Employees were able to participate by donating toys and money in exchange for a “Denim Days” sticker, allowing them to wear jeans to work on specific days during the eight-week program. TopLine members could leave unwrapped gifts for children in need under the “Gratitude Tree” at any TopLine location, and then choose an ornament from the tree as our way of thanking them for their generosity.
“TopLine is committed to helping our communities, and a special thanks goes out to our employees and members who were so generous this season,” said Tom Smith, TopLine Federal Credit Union President and CEO. “We were able to donate nearly 400 toys along with over $920 in gift cards and cash to our charitable partners to help make the holidays a little brighter for families in our communities.”
Avenues for Homeless Youth Holiday Gift Program provides youth with a sense of belonging and a caring, safe environment. They were able to fulfill wish lists for 60 youth, ages 16-24, this holiday season. Through CEAP’s Toys of Joy Holiday Program, families were able to select three toys and stocking stuffers for each child. CEAP was able to serve 748 families with more than 2,320 children; items included toys, winter clothing, stocking stuffers and blankets. Keystone Community Services hosted a Blanket Drive and was able to distribute 350 blankets to families this holiday season.
Since 2002, TopLine Federal Credit Union employees and members have been involved in several programs each year to benefit CEAP and Keystone. In addition to the annual toy donations these efforts have included drives for children’s back-to-school supplies, helping with food and clothing donations for families in need, and volunteering for Meals on Wheels. Avenues for Homeless Youth provides emergency shelter, short-term housing and supportive services for homeless youth in a safe and nurturing environment. There are over 6,000 homeless youth in Minnesota each night. Avenues shelters in Brooklyn Park and Minneapolis help over 300 youth.
Visit www.avenuesforyouth.org to learn more. CEAP (Community Emergency Assistance Programs), serving Hennepin and Anoka Counties, is a community-based, non-profit agency that partners with other resources to assist people in need. The mission of CEAP is to stabilize individuals and families in financial distress and to maximize their ability to live independently and with dignity. Visit www.CEAP.com to learn more.
Keystone Community Services is a community-based volunteer organization in St. Paul that helps thousands of low-income individuals and families in the East Metro Area. Keystone’s mission is to strengthen the capacity of individual and families to improve their quality of life. Visit www.keystoneservices.org to learn more.
TopLine Federal Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesota’s 13th largest, with assets of more than $400 million. Established in 1935, the not-for-profit cooperative offers a complete line of financial services, as well as auto and home insurance, from its five branch locations — in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth and in St. Paul’s Como Park — as well as by phone, mobile app and online at www.TopLinecu.com. Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott or Washington Counties and their immediate family members. Visit us on our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TopLineFederalCreditUnion.