PLEASANTON, CA (June 24, 2020) — In part of an ongoing commitment to supporting its valued communities impacted by COVID-19, Patelco Credit Union today announced a rollout of grants benefitting area food banks across Northern California totaling $130,000. The organizations receiving funds are striving to meet the ongoing needs surrounding food insecurity amongst vulnerable community members and families, an issue Patelco is passionate about supporting.

“Food insecurity and resource scarcity are some of the most significant threats to families in crisis, and we’re proud to do our part to support our local organizations as they champion hunger relief,” said Erin Mendez, president and CEO, Patelco Credit Union. “Our first priority at Patelco is to promote wellbeing amongst our people, and we’re grateful for the ability to rise up and meet the needs of our communities and our members facing unprecedented challenges.”

The $130,000 in grants is part of Patelco’s larger response addressing the developing needs of its members, employees and communities amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. In addition to monetary support to area food banks, Patelco is offering free financial resources in partnership with BALANCE to equip the public with necessary counseling, educational webinars and tips to navigate finances in a time of uncertainty.

Patelco has offered almost $5 million in relief loans at 0% interest rates since the shelter-in-place orders began in California, in addition to providing loan defferals, and waiving fees  for almost 60,000of its more than 380,000 members.

The following nonprofit organizations received either $10,000 or $20,000 grants to bolster hunger relief efforts in the Bay Area, the Sacramento metro area and the Central Valley, where food banks are receiving triple or more requests for food resources:

• Alameda County Community Food Bank

• Second Harvest Food Bank of Silicon Valley

• Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties

• Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services

• San Francisco and Marin Food Bank

• Redwood Empire Food Bank

• Merced County Food Bank

• Yolo County Food Bank

As Patelco monitors community needs as the COVID-19 situation evolves, the credit union will continue to do its part as a long-standing contributor to many of its valued nonprofit partners working to provide necessary services to patients and individuals in need.

For more information and access to free financial resources, please visit https://www.patelco.org/.

Pleasanton, Calif.-based Patelco Credit Union is a not-for-profit credit union committed to serving the financial health and wellbeing of its membership. With more than 380,000 members primarily in and around northern California, Patelco is committed to improving their members’ financial well-being and fueling hope and opportunity for its members by offering personalized solutions, advice, and expertise that empower them to achieve personal financial freedom. Founded in 1936 with $500 in assets by employees of the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, Patelco is in the top one percent of U.S. credit unions with more than $7.7 billion in assets. For more information, visit https://www.patelco.org/.