Supports Goodwill’s Collaborative Efforts to Distribute Critically-Needed Food Resources Throughout OC
SANTA ANA, Calif. – April 20, 2020 – In quick response to the growing needs of the Orange County community, U.S. Bank awarded $75,000 in grant funding to Goodwill of Orange County to invest in its COVID-19 Emergency Tactical Community Response program. The investment allows Goodwill to utilize its supply chain expertise to help distribute much-needed food resources throughout the county to those that need it most.
For nearly 100 years, Goodwill has been committed to serving Orange County. The sudden wave of unemployment and insecurity has more than doubled the need for Orange County food banks practically overnight. Rather than allow its supply chain assets to idle while stores and donation sites remain closed, Goodwill redeployed its truck drivers, trucks, trailers and warehouse space to aid both Orange County Food Bank and Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County with food distribution.
With 99% of revenue lost due to its retail closures, Goodwill was unable to sustain this collaborative effort. The funding from U.S. Bank allows Goodwill to keep its truck drivers employed and on the road, filling a vital need in the community and distributing hundreds of thousands of meals during this time of universal uncertainty.
“While our stores and donation sites remain closed, our mission to serve the community remains open,” said Nicole Suydam, President and CEO, Goodwill of Orange County. “This crisis only deepens our commitment to Orange County. Rather than allow our trucks and drivers to sit idle during this time of great need, we found a way to collaborate with our nonprofit peers, lend our supply chain expertise to address emergency food insecurity needs and get our employees back to work in a meaningful way.
With U.S. Bank’s support, we will be able to support this effort and keep our trucks on the road until we emerge on the other side of this crisis.”
The need grows every day, but the most recent numbers indicate that at least 1.6 million pounds of food are needed throughout the county. One Goodwill truckload distributes approximately 40,000 pounds of food and related resources. Goodwill has joined hands with both Orange County Food Bank and Second Harvest to help get food into the hands of those that need it most.
“In this time of crisis, and even when its own operation has been impacted greatly, Goodwill of Orange County did not hesitate to mobilize its assets for the greater good of the Orange County community,” said John Kearney, Vice President, U.S. Bank Orange County Consumer and Business Banking Group, and Board Chair of Goodwill of Orange County. “Redeploying its supply chain expertise to distribute food across the county will impact hundreds of thousands of lives. U.S. Bank is proud to partner with Goodwill to support this humanitarian effort.”
The U.S. Bank funding comes as part of the institution’s $30 million commitment to help with immediate and long-term COVID-19 relief efforts and to address unmet needs in local markets across the country.
About Goodwill of Orange County
Goodwill of Orange County helps people who are facing barriers find and keep jobs, which provides purpose, pride and dignity. Since its inception in 1924, Goodwill has supported hundreds of thousands of individuals through quality training and education programs, supportive employment services for people with developmental and physical disabilities, on-site job coaching, community integration programs, veteran employment services, and more. The nonprofit operates a collection of 25 retail venues throughout Orange County, including five OC Goodwill Boutiques and its e-commerce platform shopgoodwill.com, to support these life-changing programs and services. To learn more about Goodwill of Orange County, visit ocgoodwill.org.
About U.S. Bank
U.S. Bancorp, with more than 70,000 employees and $543 billion in assets as of March 31, 2020, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association, the fifth-largest commercial bank in the United States. The Minneapolis-based bank blends its relationship teams, branches and ATM network with mobile and online tools that allow customers to bank how, when and where they prefer. U.S. Bank is committed to serving its millions of retail, business, wealth management, payment, commercial and corporate, and investment services customers across the country and around the world as a trusted financial partner, a commitment recognized by the Ethisphere Institute naming the bank one of the 2020 World’s Most Ethical Companies. Visit U.S. Bank at www.usbank.com or follow on social media to stay up to date with company news.
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