Credit Union Members and Employees Brighten Up the Holidays

MAPLE GROVE, MN--(Marketwired - Jan 21, 2014) - The Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP) and Keystone Community Services benefited by receiving donations from TopLine Federal Credit Union's 15^th annual Gratitude Tree Holiday Toy Drive held during the months of November and December. TopLine members and employees generously donated toys, cash and gift cards to brighten up the holidays and bring joy to many children this holiday season.

Through CEAP's Holiday Program, families were able to select three books, two toys and a stocking stuffer for each child. Overall, CEAP served nearly 800 families this year with 2,800 children receiving new toys for the holidays.

Keystone's Gift of Hope program provided gifts for children along with household goods for the adults in each family. Keystone was able to provide toys, clothes, gifts and household items for over 50 families this holiday season. The Gifts of Hope program matches willing sponsors with families in need, providing toys and gifts that they would otherwise not be able to afford for their children. Over 2,700 toys, gifts and household items were donated.

Employees were able to participate by donating toys and money to CEAP and Keystone Holiday Drive in exchange for a "Denim Days" sticker, allowing them to wear jeans to work on specific days during the four-week program. TopLine members could leave unwrapped gifts for children in need under the "Gratitude Tree" at any TopLine location, and then choose an ornament from the tree as our way of thanking them for their generosity.

"TopLine is committed to helping our communities, and a special thanks goes out to our employees and members who were so generous this season," said Tom Smith, TopLine Federal Credit Union President and CEO. "We were able to donate over 260 toys along with gift cards and cash to our charitable partners to help make the holidays a little brighter for families in our communities."

Since 2002, TopLine Federal Credit Union employees and members have been involved in several programs each year to benefit CEAP. In addition to the annual toy donations these efforts have included drives for children's back-to-school supplies, helping with food and clothing donations for families in need, and volunteering for Meals on Wheels.

CEAP (Community Emergency Assistance Programs), serving Hennepin and Anoka Counties, is a community-based, non-profit agency that partners with other resources to assist people in need. The mission of CEAP is to stabilize individuals and families in financial distress and to maximize their ability to live independently and with dignity. Visit www.CEAP.com to learn more.

Keystone Community Services is a community-based volunteer organization in St. Paul that helps thousands of low-income individuals and families in the East Metro Area. Keystone's mission is to strengthen the capacity of individual and families to improve their quality of life. Visit www.keystoneservices.org to learn more.

TopLine Federal Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesota's 13^th largest, with assets of more than $340 million. Established in 1935, the not-for-profit cooperative offers a complete line of financial services, as well as auto and home insurance, from its five locations -- in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth and in St. Paul's Como Park -- as well as by phone and online at www.TopLinecu.com. Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott or Washington Counties and their immediate family members.