Columbia Bank raises more than $200,000 for homeless

MATTAWA — Columbia Bank, which has a branch in Mattawa, has raised $209,335.96 and 8,140 items were raised for 54 local homeless shelters across the Northwest during the second annual Warm Hearts Winter Drive.

Through generous donations from customers, employees and the community, Columbia Bank surpassed its 2016 fundraising goal of $160,000 for Warm Hearts by 30.8 percent, and exceeded the funds raised in 2015 by 32.8 percent.

“We are so proud of our employees, customers and community, who rallied together again this year to raise awareness of this growing issue, and make a real difference,” said Melanie Dressel, President and CEO of Columbia Bank.

“The Warm Hearts Winter Drive was created to benefit the growing number of people who are impacted by homelessness and are struggling to receive essential services during our cold and rainy winter months.”

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the number of people experiencing homelessness in the Northwest has increased six percent since 2015. Columbia Bank launched the Warm Hearts Winter Drive in 2015 to support nonprofit organizations providing warmth to individuals, families and children in need.

One hundred percent of the clothing and funds collected during the Warm Hearts Winter Drive are donated directly back to the shelters and relief organizations in the communities where the collections originated, Dressel noted.