Ascentra Contributes $50,000 to Help Close Local Food Insecurity Gap

Bettendorf, Iowa – Ascentra Credit Union has contributed $50,000 to the River Bend Food Bank’s and the John Deere Foundation’s “Plowing a New Path to End Hunger” match campaign. The campaign was created to close an almost $1.3 million funding gap that the food bank currently faces due to increased food insecurity and higher food costs.

“Food insecurity continues to grow in western Illinois and eastern Iowa communities,” said Linda Andry, President and CEO, Ascentra Credit Union. “Helping the food bank meet the needs of our community is a perfect example of how credit unions are focused on people helping people. A motto in which our purpose is built upon.”

Lately, the food bank has been faced with having to purchase more food since the once steady supply of donated food from local retailers and private donors has vastly diminished. According to statistics provided by the food bank, in just one year the need for food has increased 62% with a price hike of 18%. With the help of this donation and the match campaign, the food bank hopes to purchase an additional 6.5 million meals to close the funding gap for supporting our communities.

“We are extremely grateful for the generosity of Ascentra Credit Union and their commitment to ending hunger in our communities,” said Chris Ford, Chief Operating Officer, River Bend Food Bank. “They serve as a great example of a community partnership that is looking out for their neighbors and ensuring their food needs are met. This is very commendable and something they should be very proud of.”

Ascentra has more than 42,000 members who count on the credit union to give back to their community for programs and organizations such as the River Bend Food Bank. They have been an ongoing supporter of the organization for many years and have donated approximately $205,850 since 2015 for various programs, efforts and initiatives created to help end hunger. “We are proud to support a proven organization who is actively fighting the fight against hunger in our community,” said Andry. “It is the most efficient way to put funds to work and make an immediate difference.” Ascentra also participates in the Community Hunger Drive each February collecting funds and food donations in each of their nine branch locations. In 2023, nearly 1000 pounds of food donations were collected.

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Photo Caption:
Members of Ascentra’s executive team present staff from the River Bend Food Bank with $50,000 as a contribution to the Plowing a New Path to End Hunger Match Campaign. Pictured left to right are: Aaron Conner, SVP Operations, Ascentra Credit Union; Jennifer Naeve, SVP & CMO, Ascentra Credit Union; Chris Ford, COO, River Bend Food Bank; Ralph Kelly, Board Member, River Bend Food Bank; Nancy Renkes, President and CEO, River Bend Food Bank; Linda Andry, President and CEO, Ascentra Credit Union; Christian Marcussen, CTIO, Ascentra Credit Union; Shelly Ridgeway, EVP and COO, Ascentra Credit Union; Beth Grabin, CFO, Ascentra Credit Union; Jenny Colvin, Chief Development Officer, River Bend Food Bank and Leslie Corlett, Director of Donor Relations, River Bend Food Bank.

About Ascentra
Founded in 1950, Ascentra Credit Union is Iowa's premier credit union with more than $534 million in assets and nine branches serving the communities of Bettendorf, Clinton, Davenport, Muscatine, Iowa and Moline, Illinois. Learn more about Ascentra Credit Union at ascentra.org.  Follow Ascentra on Facebook (@ascentra), Twitter (@ascentra), Instagram (@ascentracu), TikTok (@ascentra) and on the Ascentra Credit Union YouTube channel. 

About River Bend Food Bank:
No one should go hungry. River Bend Food Bank works with 300+ partner agencies in 23 counties to make sure people facing hunger have reliable access to healthy food. Leading the community-wide effort to eliminate hunger in eastern Iowa and western Illinois, the food bank distributes over 20 million meals each year to children, adults, and seniors through food pantries, schools, senior residences, and community organizations. River Bend Food Bank will feed people today and end hunger tomorrow. Learn more about our programs and read stories of success at riverbendfoodbank.org and by following @riverbendfoodbank on Facebook and Instagram.