Dear Community Partner,
Patterson Federal Credit Union strongly believes in the credit union philosophy of “People helping people” and we enjoy supporting many things in our great community. For the past eight years, our main philanthropic focus has been to ensure that local children have the food they need over weekends and breaks from school. This project, sometimes referred to as the Backpack Program or Project CARE, has been a top priority of ours and we have worked with many other community members to make sure our local students are not going hungry. Things have changed over the past several years and we, along with our partners in the school district, have had to make many adjustments to sustain this project.
In order to create a more streamlined process, as well as allow more community partnerships, Patterson Federal Credit Union started The Acorn Project, a foundation dedicated to helping support the needs of children in our community. The Acorn Project was started with an initial donation of $10,000 by Patterson and will be used to provide food for children in need throughout local communities. In order to sustain this project and increase community involvement, we are seeking donations. Any donation you make to The Acorn Project is tax deductible.
During the 2023-2024 school year, 100-150 bags of food were sent home with Arkadelphia Public School District students each weekend. For the most part, each bag of food contained a packet of oatmeal, a granola bar, a package of crackers, a cup of fruit, macaroni and cheese or ramen noodles, Vienna sausages, and soup/ravioli. For some children that would supplement what they had at home and for others that may be all they ate in a weekend. On average each food bag cost $3.50. Over a 36-week school year, the cost of this program is over $18,000.
We would like to invite you to make a donation to this fund and sponsor a week’s worth of food bags. With a donation of $350.00, you will be providing one weekend worth of food to these children. Additionally, you will be recognized as the food sponsor of the week on social media (both for The Acorn Project and Arkadelphia School District) as well as highlighted in branch at Patterson.
If you have any questions about how this project will run, the need for these backpacks of food in our local schools, or anything else related to The Acorn Project, please feel free to reach out and we would be happy to meet with you.
Thank you for your support,
Shawn Cowart, President and CEO; Nicole McGough, Vice President
shawn@pfcuonlne.org nicole@pfcuonline.org
_____ Yes, I would like to sponsor a week’s worth of food bags for $350
_____ I would prefer to make a different donation to The Acorn Project
Contact Person’s Name _______________________________________________________________________
Name of the Business (if applicable) _____________________________________________________________
Email ____________________________________ Phone Number ____________________________________
Please submit your donation to The Cornerstone Foundation and list The Acorn Project in the memo line of your check. Checks can be sent to:
Nicole McGough
124 WP Malone Dr.
Arkadelphia AR 71923
*If you need an alternate method to donate, please contact Nicole McGough
The Acorn Project is a Donor Advised Fund held by the Cornerstone Credit Union Foundation
(Cornerstone Foundation) which is a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt organization. Your donation may be
tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.
The meaning behind The Acorn Project:
The acorn is a symbol of growth, fresh starts, and unlimited potential.
From the acorn, a small seed, a mighty oak tree can grow.
Our hope is that our fund will also be a small project that grows
and creates a mighty impact on our community.
“The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson~
