Press Contact: Heidi Worker
(757) 552-1000, Ext. 43026
heworker@chartway.com

Even during the summer months while tourists are catching rays at the beach and chasing down the infamous ice-cream man, hunger remains a devastating issue in the Hampton Roads area. Having heard the news that the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia was experiencing a staggering shortfall, Chartway’s employees decided to join the battle against hunger.

Having initially set a goal to raise 500 pounds of non-perishable food items to supply those in need with provisions to sustain them, the credit union worked hard to fill the stomachs of those struggling to make ends meet. They placed donation containers in all of their Hampton Roads branches, promoted the drive through their social media outlets and even encouraged their employees to take their kids shopping to teach them about the importance of generosity and compassion. Thanks to the help of its employees and members, the credit union was able to more than double its goal – in all, collecting 1,091 pounds of food and raising $600.00 to provide 2,506 meals.

“At Chartway, giving back has been the cornerstone of our organization since 1959,” said President and CEO, Ron Burniske. “With great purpose and the same spirit of volunteerism that has long distinguished our organization, we were honored to be able to extend a helping hand to those whose lives have taken a tough turn - all while encouraging others to do the same.”

The credit union invites other organizations to contact the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia to find out how they can help stock the shelves. Simply visit http://www.foodbankonline.org/ or call (757)627-6599.

It’s a family affair! The son of Chartway’s Senior Vice President went shopping to support the credit union’s food drive

Chartway’s William O’Berry proving that donating can be fun

(left to right) Representatives from the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, Susan Mayo, Abigail Weber and Joanne Batson gratefully accept a donation of $600.00 and 1,091 pounds of food to provide 2,506 meals from Chartway employees Jen Saunders and Kim Little

About the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia
Since 1981, the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, a member of Feeding America™ and the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, has been providing food for hungry people throughout Southeastern Virginia. The Foodbank has distributed over 206.1 million pounds of food throughout our 4,745 square mile service area, which includes the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Franklin, and Virginia Beach as well as the counties of Southampton, Northampton, Sussex, Isle of Wight, and Accomack. During the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the Foodbank distributed over 12.3 million pounds of food to more than 380,000 individuals. For more information, visit http://www.foodbankonline.org/.

About Chartway Federal Credit Union
Chartway FCU, a not-for-profit financial institution, has been serving members and families since 1959, building a service network that includes 64 branches in 10 states. Headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA, the credit union’s reach extends through Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia and Utah. HeritageWest Credit Union and SouthWest Community Credit Union joined the Chartway family in 2010. Utah Central became part of the organization in 2011. Altogether, the organization has assets of more than $1.9 billion, and serves 230,000 members. For more information, visit www.chartway.com; or, follow them at www.facebook.com/chartwayfcu.