Redwood Credit Union in Santa Rosa, Calif., has surpassed $1 million in total donations to the Redwood Empire Food Bank through a longstanding partnership between the two organizations.
In addition to financial contributions, Redwood employees volunteer more than 400 hours each year at REFB food distribution sites. The credit union also organizes a Porch-to-Pantry food drive that drew 1,408 donors and collected more than 36,000 pounds of food during the holiday season.
"Food insecurity is often the first visible sign of financial hardship," Brett Martinez, RCU's president/CEO, said. "When families struggle to meet basic needs like putting food on the table, it signals much broader economic challenges. At RCU, we believe stability is the foundation of financial well-being. That's why our long-standing support of Redwood Empire Food Bank is so important – it helps ensure people have what they need today, so they can build a stronger, more secure future."
RCU's $1 million in donations has supported REFB's distribution network, which serves residents in Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino and other Northern California counties. In 2025, the credit union's financial contributions and 402 hours of volunteer time helped provide 282,038 meals.
"We are incredibly grateful for the enduring support of Redwood Credit Union," Allison Goodwin, president /CEO of the Redwood Empire Food Bank, said. "Reaching the $1 million mark is a testament to RCU's dedication to our mission, as are the volunteer hours and community advocacy that help us lift the hopes of those most in need."
For almost four decades, the Redwood Empire Food Bank has served as the region's largest hunger-relief organization, assisting more than 135,000 people across five counties. The organization operates hundreds of monthly food distribution programs through a network of community partners.
Founded in 1950, RCU serves consumers and businesses in the North Bay and San Francisco. It offers personal and business banking, lending, wealth management and insurance services through its wholly owned subsidiary, RCU Services Group. The credit union has $9.76 billion in assets and serves more than 525,000 members across branches from San Francisco to Ukiah, Calif.
Joyce Moed can be reached at joyce.moed@arc-network.com.
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