EAST HARTFORD, Conn.--American Eagle Financial Credit Union has donated $6,000 to combat summer food insecurity for families through its support of several local nonprofit organizations.
AEFCU has made contributions to Master’s Manna in Wallingford, the Hunger Action Team in East Hartford, Got Lunch Newington, Midwest Food Bank New England in Manchester, and Enfield Food Shelf.
“Food insecurity spikes over the summer,” American Eagle FCU President & CEO Howard Brady said in a statement. “Many families rely on school lunch programs to feed their children during the school year and when summer rolls along, it can put a lot of extra stress on families. We are proud to support these organizations in our community that are providing nutritious meals and groceries.”
The credit union said:
- Master’s Manna in Wallingford will use the funds to support the increased demand for their Family Food Pantry and Family Dining Center, which serves 525 households and nearly 400 hot meals each week during the summer months. Master’s Manna provides support for other basic human needs such as health support services, homeless support and intervention, a clothing center and laundry facilities.
- The East Hartford Hunger Action Team donation will support their Backpacker Program. The organization’s Backpacker Program is run by the East Hartford Public Schools and Sodexo Foodservice Program. It provides students with severe food insecurity a backpack of non-perishable food items each weekend to help cover the gaps when students are not in school. This program recognizes the importance of ensuring that individuals and families have access to nutritious meals, especially during the school year.
- Midwest Food Bank in Manchester will use the donation to supplement its food inventory. For every $1 donated, Midwest Food Bank New England gives agencies at least $30 of products, absolutely free. This enables them to serve more people with a wider variety of items and use their budget dollars for supplementary wrap-around services assisting people in becoming financially independent again.
- Enfield Food Shelf needed support for its Summer Lunch Link Program. The donation from American Eagle FCU will help to provide more than 6,000 lunches to families who live at or below the poverty level this summer.
- The donation to Got Lunch Newington will support their lunch program throughout the summer for families in need.