Local Credit Union Matches Member Gifts, Donates Five Thousand to Food Bank

Coast Central Credit Union announced that its members raised two thousand five hundred dollars during a one month holiday Hunger Fighter Challenge, and the credit union matched that amount to provide a combined five thousand dollars to Food for People, the primary food bank serving Humboldt County. Stakeholders gathered on December 19 at Food for People headquarters in Eureka for a check presentation ceremony.

The contribution arrives as local food assistance networks confront rising demand amid a strained economic climate. Coast Central Credit Union emphasized its commitment to community support through the credit union motto of People Helping People and said it will continue broader community giving across Humboldt, Del Norte and Trinity counties. The funds are intended to support Food for People as it buys, stores and distributes nutritious foods for families, children and seniors across the county.

Community leaders and service providers say even modest donations can have an outsized impact for local food banks that operate with thin margins and rely on volunteer labor. Money gifted to food banks often goes directly to purchasing perishable items that are expensive to source otherwise, and that can mean more fresh produce and protein for households who rely on emergency and ongoing food assistance. In Humboldt County many families use a combination of food bank services and public benefit programs to make ends meet, so contributions that free up other resources can improve household stability and health.

Coast Central Credit Union framed the effort as consistent with its member driven mission. “We are incredibly proud of the compassion and swift action shown by our members,” said Fred Moore, President and CEO of Coast Central Credit Union. “Their generosity comes at a crucial time. The current economic climate means more of our neighbors are facing food insecurity, and organizations like Food for People are indispensable. These funds will directly support our ability to provide nutritious foods to thousands of local families, children, and seniors.”

Public health experts and local advocates note that food insecurity is tied to higher rates of chronic disease, stress and poorer developmental outcomes for children, making reliable food access a community health priority as well as a matter of social equity. Local policymakers and nonprofit leaders face ongoing pressure to secure stable funding and infrastructure to reduce reliance on short term charitable giving.

For Humboldt County residents who depend on emergency food services, the donation provides immediate relief. For the wider community the gesture highlights how local institutions, members and nonprofits work together to respond to economic challenges and to push for longer term solutions that address underlying causes of hunger and poverty.