The weight of food insecurity can sometimes go unseen, falling to the wayside with so many of us preoccupied with the hustle and bustle of the holidays and a new year; however, hunger continues to impact people living throughout our communities. According to Feeding America’s 2022 annual report, an estimated 49 million – or 1 in 6 people in the United States – accessed charitable food assistance services at some point throughout the year. These assistive programs are foundational, bringing nutrition, security and hope to children and adults nationwide. Supporting local hunger-relief organizations is one way that we can all play a part in shaping the towns, cities and communities that we call home.
 During the recent holiday season, our employees joined together in the name of nourishment, contributing to a company-wide canned food collection to benefit the communities where we live and work. In combined collaboration with Merchants Capital and Merchants Bank offices, employees were encouraged to donate canned goods and non-perishable food items. Each regional office selected a local organization to receive the donation of these collected items. Â
All items were collected on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 28, and the weight of donations was calculated and reported. The Merchants Foundation amplified the generosity of Merchants’ employees by proposing monetary donations to the selected local organizations equivalent to 10 times the weight of each location’s physical donation.Â
From our employees working in quaint communities such as Lynn, IN, to those based in major cities such as Boston, New York and Washington, D.C., their generosity never ceases to amaze us. In total, 2,695.72 pounds of food was collected and donated to organizations within Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York and Washington, D.C. The total monetary contribution by Merchants Foundation was $10,000. Each organization received a minimum of $500 and more was given to each location based on the amount of donations reported.Â
“When Merchants employees are asked to show up, they SHOW UP!” said Julia Kaercher, Merchants Foundation’s Executive Director. “This was our first Giving Tuesday campaign, and I am in no way surprised that our employees were ready to give back, but the way each location showed up reminded me that we have an incredibly special culture. These donations will hopefully help families make one less compromise about what needs to meet, provide healthy options for kids to have for breakfast and dinner, create easier access for our elderly community members and so much more. We have made a difference as a company and I look forward to the many opportunities to continue this progress!”Â
Merchants Bank, Merchants Capital and Merchants Foundation look forward to opportunities to show our communities greater support in 2024.Â
