Horizon staff taking part in service day

SANDPOINT — The Bonner Community Food Bank will be getting a helping hand Tuesday from Horizon Credit Union staff.

The seventh annual Go.Give.Grow community service event is a chance to give back to the community, Horizon Credit Union officials said.

"Our team members look forward to Go.Give.Grow. every year and really enjoy learning more about our many community partners and the ways they support people experiencing food and housing insecurity,” Kathleen Makena, Horizon’s community engagement manager, said. “The best part about Go.Give.Grow. is the joy we all experience when we come together to make an impact in our communities by putting the credit union principle of people helping people into action in a big way." 

The team at the food bank's Sandpoint facility will be pulling old plants and weeds and replenishing and amending soil in garden beds. They also will be removing trellising materials and any other needs food bank officials have.

Go.Give.Grow is the credit union’s largest volunteer event of the year. In addition to Bonner Community Food Bank, which has facilities in Sandpoint and Priest River, Horizon is partnering with 19 other food banks and non-profits throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana, building on its commitment to address food and housing insecurity in the communities it serves. 

Horizon Credit Union will close all operations at noon, allowing all employees, leaders and board members to volunteer as a unified team.  

This year’s Go.Give.Grow. will focus on enhancing community health by supporting organizations dedicated to addressing hunger and housing challenges. Additionally, several projects will address educational needs by providing nutritious snacks to school children so they can focus on learning. 

Partners in the Spokane area include Christ Kitchen, Second Harvest Spokane, Serve Spokane, Partners INW and Habitat for Humanity Store Spokane.   

Since its inception, Go.Give.Grow has expanded significantly. In 2018, the event benefitted 13 organizations. This year it will benefit 20, reflecting Horizon Credit Union’s continuing commitment to making a meaningful impact in the communities it serves, credit union officials said.

While the event is the most exciting volunteer day of the year, making a difference is not a one-day event at Horizon, credit union officials said. Volunteering and contributing to the community are integral parts of Horizon’s mission. In addition to closing one afternoon each year, employees are given 24 hours of paid volunteer time annually to use during work hours. On top of that, any employee who volunteers for 100 or more hours in a calendar year (with or without Horizon) is recognized with a $500 donation to a 501c3 of their choice. 

Founded in 1947 as a member-owned credit union, Horizon now serves over 110,000 members with 30 branch locations across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.