As food insecurity continues to affect families across Lane County, local Peak Credit Union branches stepped up this holiday season.
Through a company-wide food drive from Nov. 10 to Dec. 20, Peak Credit Union members and employees donated more than 14,000 food items, with contributions from area branches going directly to the Food for Lane County food bank.
According to Laurie Kresl, VP of marketing at Peak Credit Union, the Lane County branches contributed 1,992 food items. That included 253 items from Cottage Grove, 374 from Springfield Main, and 429 from Springfield Gateway. The West 11th branch in Eugene saw the highest level of engagement, with 693 food items donated.
“Our focus was on encouraging participation and supporting local food banks in any way we could,” Kresl said. “We know that every item donated helps extend the reach of Food for Lane County across the communities they serve during a time of increased need.”
In addition to food donations, the TwinStar Community Foundation, now part of the newly formed Peak Credit Union organization, is supporting local hunger-relief efforts through matched monetary contributions. Peak matches monetary donations dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000, helping amplify the impact of every contribution made by members and employees, Kresel said.
“This food drive showed what’s possible when members and employees come together with a shared purpose,” Kresel said.
The merger between Northwest Community Credit Union and TwinStar occurred in June 2023. On Sept. 15, 2025, the already merged credit union rebranded as Peak Credit Union to further unify the organization.
Editor’s note: In the Dec. 25 print edition, there was an error in the timeline for the company merger. The timeline has been corrected in this article.
