(Maple Grove, MN) — Sept. 13, 2023 — TopLine Financial Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based member-owned financial services cooperative, held their 20th Annual School Supply Drive that benefited local non-profits, Avenues for Youth, Community Emergency Assistance Programs (CEAP) and Keystone Community Services. TopLine members and employees generously donated a variety of school supplies including notebooks, folders, binders, pencils, crayons, calculators, flash drives, backpacks and more to help youth in our communities get ready for the new school year.
TopLine and community members could purchase items from the credit union’s Amazon Wishlist or Target Registry, and have them delivered directly to TopLine, and in return we delivered to our charitable partners. When the program ended employees and members had donated over 2,230 school supply items, nearly 50 backpacks and over $700 in cash to assist local youth in need.
“Thank you to all our generous donors, we are grateful for the support from our employees and members to help students kick-off the school year,” says Mick Olson, TopLine President and CEO. “Back-to-school season can be stressful for families and we’re glad we can make it a little easier by providing the necessary supplies kids need for a thriving learning experience, and partner with local non-profits to distribute these items.”
Avenues for Youth provides emergency shelter, short-term housing and supportive services for homeless youth ages 16-24 in Hennepin County. There are over 4,900 homeless youth in Minnesota each night. Avenues shelters in Brooklyn Park and Minneapolis help over 250 youth annually. 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.org 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 individuals and families to improve their quality of life. Visit www.keystoneservices.org to learn more.
TopLine Financial Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesota’s 11th largest credit union, with assets of more than $785 million and serves over 50,000 members. Established in 1935, the not-for-profit financial cooperative offers a complete line of financial services 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, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington and Wright counties in Minnesota and their immediate family members. To learn more, visit TopLine’s online Financial Learning Center or for sessions visit https://www.toplinecu.com/resources/financial-education/events.