Gesa helping to fight food insecurity

RICHLAND — September is Hunger Action Month, and Gesa Credit Union is partnering with Food Lifeline and Second Harvest to fight food insecurity, according to an announcement from Gesa. 

Throughout September, the three organizations will unite to raise awareness, inspire community participation and generate support for those impacted by hunger locally, according to the announcement. 

As presenting sponsor, Gesa will match up to $25,000 in donations to both Food Lifeline and Second Harvest. The credit union will also collect monetary donations and host food drives for non-perishable food items at their branches throughout the month, including the branch in Moses Lake.  

“We’re honored to once again partner with Food Lifeline and Second Harvest to support the incredible work they do, providing nourishing meals to individuals and families throughout the Pacific Northwest,” Brandon Allison, AVP of Community Impact at Gesa Credit Union, wrote in the announcement. “Hunger continues to affect so many of our neighbors, and often it goes unseen. That’s why our team is committed to helping strengthen the support systems that serve those who need it most. We’re proud to stand alongside these organizations and look forward to making a lasting difference together.” 

Food Lifeline is a nonprofit organization that partners closely with food banks across Western Washington, distributing 71 million pounds of food annually, which is the equivalent of more than 164,000 meals every day. Working with 299 agency partners, they served more than 1.7 million people facing hunger in Fiscal Year 2024 alone, according to Gesa’s announcement. 

Second Harvest is a nonprofit organization that partners with 250 food pantries and meal sites to distribute 80,000 meals per day across Eastern Washington and North Idaho. Every weekend, the organization provides meals to more than 11,000 children facing hunger in the region.  

“What makes Hunger Action Month powerful is seeing how generosity ripples through our community,” wrote Jason Clark, CEO of Second Harvest.  

For more information about Food Lifeline, visit their website https://foodlifeline.org/. To learn more about Second Harvest, visit https://2-harvest.org/. For more information about Gesa Credit Union’s involvement in the community, visit https://www.gesa.com/community.