Gather4Good® is sponsored by Catholic United Financial
Based in St. Paul, Minn., Catholic United Financial is a life insurance and financial products cooperative serving 80,000 Catholics in the Upper Midwest since 1878. As a not-for-profit, Catholic United transforms its profits into purpose, bringing together members, employees and community volunteers to pursue its mission through local grants, post-secondary education scholarships, service opportunities and more. For more information about Catholic United Financial, its Foundation or Credit Union, call 651-490-0170, 1-888-568-6670 or visit us online at www.catholicunitedfinancial.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 28, 2015
WEST FARGO, N.D., – More than 265 volunteers showed their compassion for victims of homelessness and abuse on Sept. 27 during a Gather4Good® event at Holy Cross Catholic Church in West Fargo.
In just two hours, the gathered adults and children assembled more than 3,500 care kits that will be distributed to homeless and domestic abuse shelters in the West Fargo area. (View Photos)
Gather4Good® events are group service opportunities held around the Upper Midwest to produce care kits — cloth bags filled with toiletry items — for victims of homelessness, abuse and natural disasters. The kits provide basic hygiene necessities and add some normalcy back into the lives of struggling people. The Sept. 27 event was the first Gather4Good® event held in North Dakota, and the enthusiastic response means the program will likely return.
“This is our sixth year of sponsoring Gather4Good® events. Each year we’ve not only experienced increased donations, but also increased volunteer participation,” said Harald Borrmann, President of Catholic United Financial, the sole sponsor of the Gather4Good® program.
At Mass prior to the event, Catholic United Financial Vice President Michael Ahles spoke to volunteers about the impact the kits have on the lives of those in need. The event was followed with games, refreshments and musical entertainment.
Catholic United Financial and its volunteers have distributed more than 18,500 personal care kits and raised more than $37,000 in donations since the first event was held in 2010. Past Gather4Good® events have been held in Minnesota cities and towns, including Hastings, Albertville, New Prague, St. Paul, and Rochester. The program received commendations in 2014 from the offices of Congressman John Kline for “devotion to helping those in need.”
“The kits assembled at our Gather4Good® events immediately benefit the surrounding community. It’s amazing to see the hard work of volunteers provide those in need with a sense of hope and normalcy. Helping others is not just nice to do — we believe it is our responsibility as faithful people to help those less fortunate,” said Borrmann.
More information about Gather4Good® is available at www.gather4good.org.
About Catholic United Financial
Catholic United Financial strives to help every generation of the Catholic community thrive and grow. By being the provider of choice for life insurance and retirement preparation for its more than 80,000 members, and by giving back to their communities through more than 120 local councils, Catholic United has built a relationship with its members stretching back 137 years. Programs that provide matching grants to schools and churches, assistance to members in need, and higher education scholarships for young members have given millions of dollars to communities throughout Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa. Based in St. Paul, Minn., Catholic United Financial is a professional friend, helping its members to plan for the future, for every step of every journey, for life. For more information about Catholic United Financial or its Foundation or Credit Union, call 1-800-568-6670 or visit online at www.catholicunitedfinancial.org.
