HAPO Community Credit Union Partners with Communities In Schools of Benton-Franklin and Tri City Diversity and Inclusion Council for Building A Dream Project to Celebrate MLK Day

HAPO Community Credit Union is proud to announce its partnership with Communities In Schools of Benton-Franklin (CISBF) and Tri City Diversity and Inclusion Council (TCD&IC) to help provide essential items, food, gift cards, and PPE to families struggling with homelessness in our area.

Each year, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., the United States observes MLK Day as a designated national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.  

HAPO, along with other community partners will volunteer to give out food and winter essentials to people who have found themselves facing homelessness on MLK Day. 

From December 28, 2020-January 11, 2021, all Tri-Cities HAPO locations will be collecting non-perishable food items to give out on MLK Day.  Donations can be dropped off in the “Building A Dream” boxes located inside the lobby at each branch.

In addition to non-perishable food donations, monetary donations can be made at all Tri-Cities HAPO locations. Our community partners, The Links Tri Cities Chapter, AACCES, Chicago Title Insurance Company, WA Build Back Black Alliance, and TCD&IC will match all donations up to $7500 to help purchase additional items to hand out on MLK Day. Ask a HAPO representative how to make a donation! 

“As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, Life's most persistent and urgent question is,  what are you doing for others?  TCD&IC is dedicated to supporting marginalized communities. Homeless youth are our most vulnerable population and we urge our community to join us in service, in building a dream to fight hunger and homelessness”  said Naima Chambers-Smith, Founder and CEO of Tri Cities Diversity and Inclusion Council.

“There are roughly 17,000 youth in Benton and Franklin Counties that are living in poverty and struggling with the added barriers of the pandemic.  Our hope is for the community to help us build this dream into reality to ensure youth and families have the resources and support they need to be safe, healthy and successful” said Lupe Mares, Executive Director of Communities In Schools Benton Franklin.

Thank you to community partner Century 21 Tri Cities and The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid Columbia for their generous support of this program.  To learn more about how you can support this program by making a donation, please contact Meaghan Brooks, Mobile Branch Coordinator, at meaghan.brooks@hapo.org.

Communities in Schools of Benton-Franklin is dedicated to empowering students to stay in school and on a path to a brighter future.  Working directly inside 25 schools in Benton and Franklin Counties, they connect kids to caring adults and community resources designed to help them succeed.  To donate to or learn about CISBF more please visit www.bentonfranklin.ciswa.org.

Tri Cities Diversity and Inclusion Council is dedicated to fostering a unified community, embracing cultures, and celebrating diversity through education, advocacy, and the promotion of cultural competence and compassion.

HAPO Community Credit Union serves over 170,000 members and has 19 locations throughout Washington, and Umatilla, Morrow, and Clackamas Counties in Oregon.