Midwest BankCentre Celebrates Pride Month with Covenant House; Donates $10,000 and Needed Supplies for LGBTQ+ Young Adults
Concern for community inspires Midwest BankCentre branches to host drive for hygiene and household items for LGBTQ+ young adults experiencing homelessness
St. Louis, MO – Covenant House Missouri (CHMO) recently received a $10,000 donation and a large supply of hygiene and household items donated by Midwest BankCentre team members.
The donation drive was proposed by Midwest BankCentre’s Cultural Engagement Committee after learning that LGBTQ+ youth are more than twice as likely to experience homelessness as their non-LGBTQ+ peers. While LGBTQ+ youth total only 7% of the total U.S. youth population, they comprise 40% of all young people experiencing homelessness in the U.S.
To help stem the risks of such hardship, leaders from the bank’s 17 branch locations teamed up to find meaningful ways to offer support. Their efforts underscore Midwest BankCentre’s commitment to give everyone in the region a chance at shared prosperity through access to reasonably priced capital.
The donation drive was proposed to staff at CHMO as bank team members learned more about areas of greatest need. Throughout June, Midwest BankCentre team members were encouraged to donate hygiene and household supplies. They received a series of internal e-messages that detailed how their donations could support the mission of Covenant House Missouri.
As the partnership evolved, leaders at Midwest BankCentre decided to support the effort by donating $10,000 to help the young adults who call Covenant House Missouri home.
Wes Burns, a CHMO board member and executive vice president of community and economic development at Midwest BankCentre, said, “We are thrilled to invest in the life-saving work done by Covenant House throughout our region. Our team deeply values diversity, equity and inclusion, on our own team as well as in our community, so this was an especially meaningful way to give back to our community.”
“The cost of everyday items continues to increase, so providing essential items to the young people we serve is critically important,” said Covenant House Missouri CEO Jessica Erfling. “Our partnerships with Midwest BankCentre and other organizations are vital to us supporting youth on their journey from homelessness to hope.”
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About Covenant House Missouri: Covenant House Missouri (CHMO) welcomes all youth and young adults who are runaway, trafficked, at-risk or experiencing homelessness with unconditional love, absolute respect and a place to call home. Beyond shelter and basic needs, SHMO offers transformative solutions to help young people ages 16 to 24 build productive, independent and sustainable lives.
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Covenant House Missouri team members recently met several Midwest BankCentre branch managers and retail leaders to accept hygiene and household supply items and a $10,000 donation from the bank. The donations were earmarked for local LGBTQ+ young adults aged 16 to 24 who are experiencing homelessness.