Focus of October event in Mankato includes hurricane relief

Local organizations in the Mankato area will receive 2,000 of these kits for to support the needs of the community, while an additional 1,000 kits will be sent to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

3,000 care kits assembled on Oct. 1 will help local struggling families and victims of Hurricane Harvey

Gather4Good® is sponsored by

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.

MANKATO, MN – Providing basic necessities during times of need, encouraging people in tough times, building positive self-image – who knew that a simple kit of hygiene items could do so much?

Volunteers of all ages will assemble 3,000 of these care kits at the Gather4Good® service event on
Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017 starting at 12:15 p.m. Local organizations in the Mankato area will receive 2,000 of these kits for to support the needs of the community, while an additional 1,000 kits will be sent to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Gather4Good® is a service program initiated by Catholic United Financial in 2010 to offer people of all ages the chance to care for their neighbors in need, and have fun while doing it. Volunteers are invited to assemble personal hygiene items and positive messages into care kits. Refreshments, live music and kids activities will be provided to make the event fun and rewarding for the whole family.

“Our care kit assembly project can be done by anyone aged three to 103. If you can pick up a toothbrush, you can do it,” said Nate Lamusga, Member Engagement Director for Catholic United Financial. “Families who have participated in the past told us that Gather4Good® was an opportunity to teach their kids a meaningful, hands-on lesson about helping those less fortunate. That’s another benefit of this event.”

Location: Loyola Catholic School, 145 Good Counsel Dr, Mankato, MN
Time: 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m

Sons of Norway and Catholic Financial Life, fraternal benefit societies like event sponsor Catholic United Financial, have stepped forward to help expand the efforts of this Gather4Good® event. By coming together to support Hurricane Harvey victims, 1,000 additional kits are set to be packed and shipped. Catholic United Financial is also coordinating with Catholic Charities to distribute the kits in Texas.

Representatives of these charities who receive these care kits report that the kits provide families with hygiene items that get used everyday and are often taken for granted. When basic necessities like soap and toothpaste are provided, struggling families can work on larger issues like housing, job skills and living healthy lifestyles.

Catholic United Financial and its volunteers have distributed more than 20,000 personal care kits and raised more than $37,000 in donations since the first service event was held in 2010.

More information about Gather4Good® is available at www.gather4good.org or on social media: