Foundation Gives over $90,000 Through June 2020

July 13, 2020

During the first six months of 2020, the Merchants Bonding Company Foundation has donated over $90,000 to non-profit organizations across the U.S. Over one-quarter of these contributions have been directed to organizations supporting children and families such as the YMCA, Variety – the Children’s Charity and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Another important initiative for the Foundation in 2020 has been addressing the increase in food insecurity since the on-set of the COVID-19 pandemic. Merchants’ West Des Moines office coordinated a drive-through food drive collecting non-perishable food items and monetary donations for the Food Bank of Iowa, and the Foundation gave $2,500 to the Food Bank of Iowa’s COVID Relief Fund. Another $10,000 was donated to various food banks in the Pacific Northwest and southern states on behalf of Merchants’ agent partners in celebration of the 10-year anniversary of Merchants’ regional offices in those territories.

Merchants’ associates have also been giving their time and talent to support their local communities in 2020. Commercial Underwriting Assistant Jeanne Schulte put her sewing skills to good use, donating

 hundreds of homemade masks to Easterseals Iowa and MaskHelpers.org. Meals from theHeartland, Children and Family Urban Movement and Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) are a few of the other organizations that have benefited from Merchants’ VTO program, which provides up to 7.5 hours of paid time for associates to serve organizations of their choice. The VTO program supports the diversity of associates’ giving and further represent Merchants’ efforts to support the communities in which our associates live and work.

The Foundation’s fundraising activities for the remainder of 2020 will continue to support the Food Bank of Iowa to ensure vulnerable Iowans have safe access to the nutrition and resources they need, and the Food Bank can respond quickly during emergencies like COVID-19. To learn more about the Merchants Bonding Company Foundation and the organizations we support visit our Foundation page.