Purchase with Purpose Check Presentations | Summer 2021
We recently ended our “Purchase with a Purpose” Debit Card Campaign in which a $1.00 donation was made to local charities up to $10,000!
We were excited to be able to present checks for $2,000 to 5 non-profit organizations throughout the Rock River Valley!
Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County
Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to eliminate poverty housing by building simple, decent affordable houses for people in need, helping to revitalize neighborhoods and communities. With volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of materials and money, Habitat builds and rehabilitates houses with the help of partner families. The organization hosted an open house for its 13th home build in Ogle County this past June. The house now belongs to a family of seven living in Rochelle.
Habitat for Humanity of Winnebago County
Formed in 1988, Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity is the local Habitat affiliate for Winnebago County. Their work is not about the houses; it is about the homeowners and the community. The RAHFH is dedicated to building homes, neighborhoods, and lives through improved housing opportunities. Their mission is to build simple, decent, affordable homes to be sold to families currently living in substandard housing.
In addition to their hands-on work, the Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity also has a ReStore in Rockford that sells new and gently used furniture, appliances, home accessories, building materials, and more at a fraction of the retail price. Proceeds from the ReStore are used to build homes and improve our surrounding communities.
Miss Carly’s operates out of the home of Carly Rice and Jacob Rush and provides food, shelter, and supplies for Rockford’s homeless as well as assists people who are struggling with poverty and drug addiction.
Carly, Jacob, and numerous volunteers provide a home-cooked meal three days a week to those in need throughout the community as well as open up their donation room full of clothing and hygiene to provide items to our community’s most vulnerable population. They also provide to-go meals at their door for anyone who is hungry, 24/7, no questions asked. The grassroots organization prides itself on being a lighthouse for the lost and hopes to empower those in need, one plate at a time.
In 1973, a Rock Valley College student, concerned about hunger, conceived the idea of collecting food and distributing it to needy families in the Rockford community. When the Rock River Valley Pantry opened in 1974, it was run exclusively by volunteers, and food was supported mainly by churches. During the first year, 1745 individuals were given emergency food.
Today, the Pantry is operated by three full-time and four part-time staff members along with the help of volunteers who provide thousands of hours of service. The Pantry receives food and financial support from all segments of the community including churches, businesses, individuals, local retailers, foundations, and organizations.
The Kitchen Table is a donation and volunteer-based pay-what-you-can café in Rochelle. The café began as a dream of Carolyn Brown of Ashton, Illinois. She and her husband, Grant, had fed many people in need in their home over the years, even taking some of them in to stay. Together, they spent $80,000 of their own money and donations from others over a span of 3 years to bring Carolyn’s dream to reality.
Their overall mission is to provide hot, healthy, nutritious meals to all regardless of ability to pay also while treating people with dignity and respect. In 2019, the café was featured on the Facebook Watch Show, “Returning The Favor, hosted by Mike Rowe.
Bank Local. Support Local.
