DCECU Collects 5,600 Items to Benefit Pantries in Four Counties

For the third consecutive year, individuals and families in several local counties are benefiting from a donation drive at Dow Chemical Employees’ Credit Union held earlier this year. Throughout the month of February, DCECU collected food and personal care items to be divided among five organizations that distribute resources to community members.

In all, more than 5,600 items were collected. This included contributed items as well as items purchased with a $600 donation from Garber Chevrolet in Midland – which was earmarked for use within Midland County – and a few cash donations from DCECU members.

Organizations benefiting from the drive were Safe Harbor Kitchen in Bay City, Midland’s Open Door, Greater Midland Coleman Family Center, Helping Hands Mission in Beaverton and the Ecumenical Food Pantry in Saginaw.

“We’re just amazed by the generosity of our community in providing donations that will make a tremendous impact locally,” said DCECU Senior Executive Assistant to the CEO Susan Phillips, who has organized the drive each year. “To go from around 2,600 items our first year to nearly 4,000 items last year to 5,600-plus this year is wonderful growth. It’s a testament to the giving spirit of our members and employees, as well as the community at large.”

Each week of the four-week drive featured specific items that were being sought for donation, but all donations were welcomed. Collected canned food items included soups, fruits, vegetables and meats. Personal care items collected included toilet paper, toothpaste, shampoo and stick deodorant.

Saginaw-based nonprofit Hidden Harvest provided DCECU with boxes for the collection of items. At the conclusion of the donation drive, Hidden Harvest retrieved some of the donations from DCECU for transport to their destination.