MAPLE GROVE, Minn., Sept. 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — During the months of July and  August, the Community Emergency Assistance Programs (CEAP) and Keystone Community Services benefited by receiving donations from TopLine Federal Credit Union’s 13th Annual Back-to-School Supply Drive. TopLine employees and members donated over 1,100 items and nearly $1,000 to help students start the school year.

CEAP distributed school supplies to over 800 children in grades K-8 in northwestern Hennepin and all of Anoka counties. Keystone Community Services collected and distributed brand-new backpacks filled with school supplies to more than 415 youth in the St. Paul area.  The supplies in greatest need were backpacks, notebooks, pocket folders, pencils, pens, crayons, pencil boxes, glue, markers, watercolors, rulers and scissors.

TopLine employees were recognized for their charitable back-to-school donations by being able to wear jeans to work on specific days during the four-week program.

“TopLine’s school supply drive is an example of the generosity shown by our employees and members each year by helping families in need send their kids back to school with the much needed supplies for a successful year,” says Tom Smith, TopLine President and CEO. “Our donations benefit our local non-profit partner organizations CEAP and Keystone.”

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Since 2002, TopLine Federal Credit Union employees and members have been involved in several programs each year to benefit CEAP and Keystone, including drives for food and household supplies, children’s back-to-school 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.  Learn more at www.ceap.org.

Keystone Community Services, named for the strong connecting stone at the center of an arch, is a nonprofit organization that provides high-quality human services and programs in the community and in neighborhood gathering places to support and strengthen individuals, families and communities.  Keystone serves more than 25,000 people at seven community locations with the help of more than 2,000 dedicated volunteers.  Learn more at www.keystoneservices.org.

TopLine Federal Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesota’s 13th largest, with assets of more than $385 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 branch locations — in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth and in St. Paul’s Como Park — as well as by phone, mobile app 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.