Whitefish Credit Union Kicks Off “Cash and Cans Food Drive” Tuesday

Whitefish Credit Union is putting its money where its mouth is in northwest Montana’s fight against hunger.

Montana’s largest credit union has pledged that for every pound of food collected at their branches during their annual food drive event, they will donate one dollar to local food banks. The “Cash and Cans Food Drive” begins Jan. 17 and continues until Feb. 13 at all six Credit Union branches.

Each branch has selected a local organization which they’ll donate the food they’ve collected to. The Credit Union’s matching donation will also be distributing equally among these food banks. They include the North Valley Food Bank in Whitefish, the Columbia Falls Food Bank in Columbia Falls, the Tobacco Valley Food Bank in Eureka, the NW Montana Veteran’s Food Pantry in Kalispell, the Polson Loaves and Fish Food Pantry in Polson, and Thompson Falls donations will be divided between the Community Harvest Food Bank of Thompson Falls and the Community Services Fellowship Food Bank of Noxon.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our employees and members to make their food bank donations go even further this year,” said Sue Schenck, Whitefish Credit Union’s business development director. “This is our third food drive event and I’m proud to say that each year we’ve collected more than 2,000 pounds of food. That’s a lot of dollars, but we hope to collect even more this year.”

Linda Erickson is the director of programs at the NW Montana Veteran’s Food Pantry in Kalispell. Her organization provides support and assistance to local veterans and their families. She said the boost from the Whitefish Credit Union is especially welcome at this time of year.

“During the holidays we have a lot of food come in but afterward there aren’t as many local food donations. So food drives like Whitefish Credit Union’s are a real benefit to us.

“Matching dollars for pounds is great for us because there are a lot of non food related items we provide as well,” added Erickson. “We also provide the things people can’t buy with food stamps like toilet paper, shampoo, bars of soap, razors, those kinds of things.”

Those interested in participating in the “Cash and Cans Food Drive” can drop off their food items at any Whitefish Credit Union branch. All nonperishable food items will be accepted.

Whitefish Credit Union is a respected leader in the financial services industry. State chartered in 1934, it has gone on to become the largest credit union in Montana with more than $1 billion in assets. Today, the Whitefish Credit Union manages six branches throughout the state, which serve the financial cooperative’s more than 50,000 members.

300 Baker Ave.
Whitefish, MT 59937

This release was published on openPR.