Fight Hunger, Feed Hope

The COVID-19 pandemic has touched lives in ways we never could have imagined. Many members of our community have become un- or underemployed and struggle to put food on the table. Food insecurities have been a pressing issue even before 2020, but the need has only increased. Earlier this spring, Vantage chose to focus efforts on helping fill shelves at local food pantries. 

Food Drive

During the month of April, Vantage hosted a food drive, and through the generous donations of our members and staff, we collected 1,363 canned and dry goods. In addition, we collected $420 to donate to the St. Louis Area Foodbank. Each branch delivered their collected items to a pantry or organization in their community.

• Loaves and Fishes for St. Louis Inc.
• FISH of St. Charles
• Macedonia Baptist Church
• TEAM Food Pantry
• Hope Ministries Food Pantry
• Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry
• Circle of Concern
• Arnold Food Pantry
• Ozark Food Pantry
• St. Patrick Catholic Church St. Vincent DePaul Society
• O.A.S.I.S. Food Pantry

Volunteer Efforts

To accent the food drive, 37 Vantage employees volunteered for two shifts at the St. Louis Area Food Bank. They put in the sweat equity to pack over 600 cases of items that will be distributed to food pantries around the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area. In a mere six hours, they sorted nearly 9,000 pounds of food and cleaning supplies to support those in need. 

Eighties music filled the air as staff from retail and headquarters broke down shipping boxes, created donation boxes, and sorted breakfast food and cleaning supplies. It was all hands-on- deck and all smiles, joy, and laughter. 

“Volunteering at the St. Louis Area Food Bank with my co-workers was such a fulfilling experience,” commented Andrea Young, Branch Manager. “I’m proud to be part of an organization that is so heavily invested in the community.”

Volunteering at the local food bank reveals something fundamental about the character of our credit union–it’s not what we did, it’s who we are. Vantage is more than a financial institution—we’re people who care about bettering the lives of others in our community.