Kids Helped to Start the School Year Off Right With Donation of Over 800 School Supply Items

MAPLE GROVE, MN--(Marketwire - Sep 1, 2011) - During the month of August, the Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP) benefited by receiving donations from TopLine Federal Credit Union's 8^th Annual Back-to-School Supply Drive. TopLine employees and members doubled their donations from last year, donating more than 800 items to help students start the school year off right.

Last year, CEAP distributed school supplies to over 2,400 children in grades K-8 in northwestern Hennepin and all of Anoka Counties and this year they are anticipating helping 2,900 children. The supplies in greatest need were pencil boxes, colored pencils and markers, watercolors, crayons, pencils and scissors.

TopLine employees were able to participate by donating back-to-school items to CEAP in exchange for a "Denim Days" sticker, allowing them to wear jeans to work on specific days during the four-week program.

"Each year, we're proud to be able to help organizations like the Community Emergency Assistance Program in a number of ways, and this is just one example of the exceptional generosity shown by our employees and members by helping families in need send their kids back to school with the much needed supplies for a successful year," says Harry Carter, TopLine president and CEO. "This has been another difficult year for many families, and we understand the importance of kids starting the school year with the advantage of a well stocked backpack."

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 back-to-school supply drive, other efforts have included drives for food and household supplies, adult and children's clothing, helping with holiday donations to families in need, volunteering to assist elderly individuals with yard work and involvement with Meals on Wheels.

CEAP (Community Emergency Assistance Program), 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.

TopLine Federal Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesota's 13^th largest, with assets of more than $300 million. Established in 1935, TopLine offers a complete line of financial services from its five locations -- in St. Paul's Como Park, and in Brooklyn Park, Edina, Maple Grove and Plymouth -- 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.