FOLSOM, Calif. – (July 24, 2020) – SAFE Credit Union awarded a total of $60,000 in emergency grants to four Sacramento-area nonprofits to support their efforts to provide emergency services to their clients and community in response
to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Organizations receiving the grants are: River City Food Bank, St. John’s Program for Real Change, Wellspring Women’s Shelter, and the Foster Youth Education Fund.
“SAFE has seen first-hand the economic challenges the pandemic brings to the Greater Sacramento region,” says Amanda Merz, SAFE Credit Union community and advocacy engagement manager. “Shortly after the pandemic hit our area, SAFE quickly
pivoted its philanthropy plan for 2020 and set aside these funds to provide much needed assistance to organizations providing emergency services to those most at risk.”
River City
Food Bank has seen a tremendous growth in need for its services as thousands of Sacramento-region residents face food uncertainty due to lost jobs and wages. At the same time, it had to cancel its largest fundraiser due to the pandemic. The grant
will go to help the River City Food Bank serve to groups particularly affected by the pandemic: families new to the food bank and members of low-income families who have lost jobs during the pandemic and at risk of homelessness.
St.
John’s Program for Real Change, which provides tools for formerly homeless woman and children to change the trajectory of their lives, has experienced a loss of income as it had to close its two restaurants and catering company, as well
as cancel one of its largest fundraisers. Moreover, it has lost the help of over 450 volunteers as it closed its campus. St. John’s will use the grant to help continue to provide services to the 200 women and children living in the St. John’s
Shelter.
Wellspring Women’s Shelter will use the grant to help fund its expanded emergency services to both women and men in response
to new challenges posed by COVID-19. The organization is an essential provider who serves meals and provides therapy and other services to those in need.
Foster
Youth Education Fund will purchase much-needed laptops for former foster youths enrolled in college courses that have moved exclusively online. The laptop purchases fall squarely within Foster Youth Education Fund’s main mission to provide
educational and financial support for former foster youths enrolled in higher education or a trade school.
The grants are part of SAFE’s overall philanthropic mission that includes direct donations and volunteer service. In 2020, SAFE will award $400,000 in donations to the nonprofit community in the Greater Sacramento region. To learn more
about grant opportunities from SAFE, please email [email protected].
About SAFE
SAFE Credit Union has made members an integral part of its vision since 1940. Over the years the credit union has kept the focus on what really matters, putting members first, a formula that has seen SAFE grow into a leading financial institution in Northern
California with more than $3.5 billion in assets and about 236,000 members. SAFE crafts every cutting-edge product and sterling service with members’ needs foremost in mind. In addition to banking services conveniently available through online,
chat, mobile, or phone options, SAFE offers in-person care for members and small businesses at service centers across the Greater Sacramento region and a mortgage lending office serving Contra Costa and Alameda counties. SAFE is a not-for-profit,
state-chartered credit union with membership open to businesses and individuals living or working in Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Sutter, Butte, Nevada, Solano, San Joaquin, Contra Costa, Yuba, Amador, and Alameda counties. Insured by NCUA.
www.safecu.org