Tower Federal Credit Union & the TowerCares Foundation Donate $15,000 to Local Food Banks

Organizations aid local food banks to assist those impacted by recent government furlough.

[Laurel, MD] – Tower Federal Credit Union and the TowerCares Foundation recently made matching donations to three local food banks to help replenish food and other necessities depleted by the increased demand from those impacted by the recent government shutdown.

The Maryland Food Bank in Baltimore, Md., the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C. and the Anne Arundel County Food & Resource Bank in Crownsville, Md. each received $5,000, for a total donation of $15,000.

“During the furlough, Tower Federal assisted nearly 800 members who were affected by the government shutdown,” says Al Smith, Tower Federal’s Senior VP of Member Services and Treasurer for the TowerCares Foundation. “We knew that with so many Tower members impacted, there must be thousands of families in the area that were also dealing with the financial burden of going several weeks without a paycheck. When we heard about how many of those families had turned to food banks to get help putting food on their tables, we wanted to help the food banks to restock.”

Smith says that when TowerCares’ Board of Directors learned about Tower Federal’s planned donation to the food banks, they immediately matched the credit union’s donation amount. “The mission of TowerCares is to help children in need as well as brave and heroic individuals and their families who sacrificed while protecting our freedom,” he says. “The food bank donations are a tangible way that TowerCares and Tower Federal can help. We want to make sure children in need in our community and their families don’t go hungry.”

In Anne Arundel County alone, demand at food pantries increased 25-33 percent as a result of the government shutdown, explains Susan Thomas, Executive Director of the Anne Arundel County Food Bank, Inc. “The [Tower Federal and TowerCares] monetary donations are greatly appreciated,” she says.

Since its inception in 2016, TowerCares has provided over half of a million dollars in grants and donations to local charities and scholarships for children in need. To learn more about Tower Federal Credit Union, visit towerfcu.org.

Photo Caption: Susan Thomas (left), Executive Director of the Anne Arundel County Food Bank, Inc., accepts a $5,000 donation from Tower Federal Credit Union and the TowerCares Foundation to help restock food bank shelves depleted by the recent government furlough. Dan Balkin, Tower Federal’s VP/Director, Marketing & eCommerce, and TowerCares Foundation Secretary, along with Jackie MacMannis, TowerCares Foundation Ambassador and Marketing Program Manager, Community Relations & Business Development for Tower Federal, presented the checks to Thomas at the Anne Arundel County Food & Resource Bank in Crownsville, Md. on Feb. 1. Tower Federal and TowerCares also made $5,000 donations to the Maryland Food Bank in Baltimore, Md. and the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C. For information about Tower Federal Credit Union, visit towerfcu.org.