Jeffie’s Choice: Dare to Care food bank

Jessica Stumler (right), Branch Manager in Hurstbourne, KY, dropped off the donation check on December 21, 2015

On December 21, 2015, a representative from Jeffie’s Choice, Inc., through Mariner Finance, presented a $1,500 to the food bank Dare to Care located in Louisville, KY. After the death of a local 9 year old boy from malnutrition, Dare to Care was started with the goal of eradicating hunger in the Kentucky-Indiana community. The food bank sponsors a number of programs targeted for children and older adults, as well as a mobile pantry which brings fresh foods to neighborhoods in isolated pockets of need. The Cooking Matters Program, hosted by Dare to Care, encourages families to eat healthier through meal preparation classes. Since its founding in 1969, the food bank has provided over 16 million meals to the surrounding community through partnerships with over 300 agencies in and around Kentucky.

Pioneer Credit Company: The Golden Harvest Food Bank of Augusta

Frances Darnell, Manager of the Augusta, GA Pioneer Credit Company Branch and Melissa Brown, Development Officer for Golden Harvest Food Bank of Augusta

Through Jeffie’s choice, Pioneer Credit Company employee Frances Darnell had the opportunity to present the Golden Harvest Food Bank of Augusta, Georgia with a $1,500 check on February 16, 2016. The food bank has many unique programs such as a backpack program for children, a senior food box program, a mobile food pantry, and a self-run soup kitchen. The Golden Harvest food bank is a member of the Feeding America network and has provided food for over 11 million people since its inception 33 years ago. 

Mariner Finance and Pioneer Credit Company: Second Harvest Food Bank of North Tennessee

From left to right: Donny Gentry, Branch Manager of Pioneer Credit Kingsport Branch, Rhonda P. Chafin, Executive Director of Second Harvest Food Bank of North East Tennessee, Scott Denton, Branch Manager of Mariner Finance Bristol Branch.

On November 24th, representatives from Mariner Finance and Pioneer Credit Company presented a $1,500 check to the Second Harvest Food Bank of North East Tennessee through their corporate partnership with Jeffie’s Choice. The foodbank cares for 82,400 unique clients annually, of which 22,359 are children. The foodbank sponsors a Kids Café and a Food for Kids Backpack program that are specifically designed to help those children in need. Every dollar donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank of North East Tennessee is equivalent to 3.57 meals for the program. The donation Mariner Finance and Pioneer Credit Company made translates into 5,355 meals for the local community!

2015 Food Drive Results

Jeffie’s Choice hosted their 1st annual food drive! Through corporate partnerships with Mariner Finance, Pioneer Credit Company, and The Strategic Factory (corporate sponsor), everyone worked together reach the collection goal of 7,000 nonperishable food items across their footprint during the month of November.

We are ecstatic to announce, across the branch network alone, 11,924 items were collected! Pioneer Credit Company’s Home Office in Tennessee had 885 items and Mariner Finance HQ in Maryland had 1,404 items. Together they will be donating 14,213 items and thanks to The Strategic Factory a monetary donation as well!

Donations were allocated out through their local communities by using Meals on Wheels and Feeding America’s food bank locators. Together the companies were able to reach 19 states and directly make an impact in the areas they work and reside. 

Thank you to all that participated. If you have any further questions please contact info@jeffieschoice.org. 

Mariner Finance: West Ohio Food Bank

Rodney Coffey, AVP of the NW Ohio-Indianapolis Region, Linda Hamilton, CEO of the West Ohio Food Bank, and Regina Borja-Floyd, Lima, OH’s Branch Manager

On September 4th Mariner Finance hosted a Jeans Day to support the Ohio community! On October 26th, employees presented a $1,500 check through our corporate partnership with Jeffie’s Choice. This food bank is unique as they help provide over 170 entities with food to stock pantries, provide goods to soup kitchens and shelters! They have programs in place for senior citizens and children to be sure they have access to nutritious meals. This includes delivering the goods to those who cannot make it out to pick up them up.

1st Annual Food Drive

Looking for a way to give back this holiday season? Jeffie’s Choice is hosting their 1st annual food drive for the entire month of November!

How can you get involved?
Collect as many non-perishable food items as you possible. This includes canned foods such as vegetables, soup or tuna, peanut butter packets, and more! (Note: Food banks do not accept expired goods or products without ingredients listed on the label. See other exclusions here). Next, find your local food bank through Feeding America’s Local Food Bank locator, and drop off your donation at your convenience.

Encourage your friends and family to get involved! If you have any further questions please contact info@jeffieschoice.org. 

Mariner Finance: Food Bank of WNY

From left to right: Daniel Grenda, Branch Manager of the Mariner Finance Buffalo branch, the Public & Community Relation Coordinator of the Food Bank of WNY, and Brian Levis, AVP of the New York region for Mariner Finance. 

On Wednesday, October 7, 2015, Mariner Finance employees, through Jeffie’s Choice were able to drop off a $1,500 donation to the Food Bank of WNY. Brian stated, “The Food Bank of WNY was over joyed with our involvement and generous gift. They gave us a full tour of the very impressive daily operation. They help with over 198,000 local meals and programs every year! They told us our donation of $1,500 with help with over 9,000 meals in the local community!”

Mariner Finance: Food Bank of South Jersey

From left to right:  Sabine Mehnert, Senior Manager of Corporate Relations, Marian Gravely, Branch Manager of the Turnersville branch, Don Terry, AVP of the New Jersey South region, Tom Sims, Chief Development Officer , Daniel Dochterman, AVP of the New Jersey North region, Ivelisse Morales, Branch Manager of the Marlton branch, and Adam Zaccaria, Branch Manager of the Oaklyn branch.

On Wednesday, October 7, 2015, Mariner Finance employees, through Jeffie’s Choice donated to the Food Bank of South Jersey. This food bank offers cooking classes that feature affordable nutrition, meal plans for children to ensure they are fed during the non-school year months, and a Hope Mobile service to ensure they can supply food to those that may not have the ability to come into the food bank.

The Food Bank of South Jersey also features a helping hand to senior citizens. They do this by not only feeding senior citizens, but providing them with information on government programs like insurance and food stamps! 

Don Terry stated, "Senior Manager of Corporate Relations Sabine Mehnert gave us an hour long tour, which was eye-opening and inspirational. She spoke about the determination that the food bank's 45 full-time employees and countless volunteers render in providing meals to 196,000 residents for four counties in South Jersey. We learned if you are ever donating to a food drive the top two items that they desire are peanut butter and tuna fish. We were told yesterday that peanut butter and tuna fish are the equivalent of gold in the food donation world!"

Mariner Finance: Virginia Peninsula Food Bank

From left to right: John Cannella, Branch Manager of the Newport News branch, Dawn Bass-Campbell, CSR in the Newport News branch, Michelle Benson, Chief Development Officer for Virginia Peninsula Food Bank, and Jim Timblin, AVP of the Virginia South region. 

On Monday, October 5, 2015, the Mariner Finance Newport News branch dropped off a $1,500 donation to the Virginia Peninsula Food Bank. Dawn Bass-Campbell not only nominated the food bank to receive the donation, but was able to attend dropping off the check. She states, “I think I speak for everyone when I say, the tour really opened our eyes to the need in the community, and without the Virginia Peninsula Food Bank, the volunteers, and all the community outreach, a lot of people would be without.” As Dawn stated, the group was able to take a tour of facility, which has programs not only to feed children in need, but to teach them how to eat healthy and cook nutritional meals. 

Mariner Finance: Food Bank of DE

From left to right: Elizabeth Rohme, Audit Manager at Mariner Finance and one of the Jeffie’s Choice founders, Chad, Director of the Milford, DE Food Bank branch, and Monica Rash, Branch Manager of the Seaford, DE Mariner Finance branch.  

On Friday, October 3, 2015, Mariner Finance employees, through Jeffie’s Choice, were able to donate $1,500 to the Food Bank of Delaware. The Director of the location stated the monetary donation would turn into 3,000 meals. Liz stated, “One of the things they do, that I thought was amazing, is provide food to 2,500 children daily as a part of their after school program for kids!”

Mariner Finance: Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

From left to right: Cranberry Township Branch Manager Danielle Little, Community Engagement and Volunteer Coordinator Beci Russell (from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank), Area Vice President of the Western Pennsylvania Region Lauran King, Monroeville Branch Manager Greg Brown, and Butler Branch Manager Bobbie Young.

On Friday, June 26th, Mariner Finance, corporate partner of Jeffie’s Choice, hosted a Jeans Day for the Pennsylvania community! Funds were donated to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank!

Lauran states, “It was a very eye opening experience. They spend a lot of time on nutritional education. The Recipe Rainbow is very a nice fun option for families and their children. You list the items you have in your refrigerator, freezer or panty and it provides you with recipes to make with the items you have on hand.”

The group was able to tour the 94,000 square foot facility. They learned the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank distributes 2 million pounds of food per month to 11 counties in the Western Pennsylvania area. Each dollar donated provides approximately 5 meals with 95% of each dollar going straight back to the community. Our donation of $1,500 will directly translate into 7,500 meals for individuals in their community who deal with hunger.

Mariner Finance: Feeding South Florida

On Friday, June 12th, Mariner Finance, corporate partner of Jeffie’s Choice, hosted a Jeans Day for the Florida community! Funds were donated to Feeding South Florida!

Bill Singh, Audit Representative, and George Eure, AVP of the Southeast FL Region, delivered the check to the main warehouse on July 14th. While they were they learned about the distribution process and that for every dollar donated six meals are provided to those in need of assistance. They were thrilled to learn our donation of $1,500 would directly translate into 9,000 meals for individuals in their community who deal with hunger. Bill and George want to continue the relationship with Feeding South Florida through future volunteer days for Mariner employees to participate.

Mariner Finance: MANNA FoodBank

On Friday, May 29th, Mariner Finance, corporate partner of Jeffie’s Choice, hosted a Jeans Day for the North Carolina community! Funds were donated to the MANNA FoodBank!

Amanda Deaver, AVP of the Western Region, and Jennifer Bettini, Branch Manager of Waynesville, submitted MANNA FoodBank to be one of our Jeans Day contribution recipients. They delivered the check to MANNA on July 8th and were able to take a tour of the facility. MANNA FoodBank has over 200 partner agencies and provide food that is used in more than 34,000 meals every day each year! They were ecstatic to learn our donation of $1,500 would directly translate into 4,500 meals for individuals in their community who deal with hunger.

Maryland Food Bank Volunteer Day 2015

On April 27, 2015 thirty Mariner Finance employees, through their corporate partnership with Jeffie’s Choice, volunteered at the Maryland Food Bank. The team helped sort and pack over 13,118 pounds of salvage. The team was then able to tour the facility, which included the Charles. T. Bauer Community Kitchen.  The Maryland Food Bank utilizes their in house kitchen to prepare and store meals so they can then be distributed to various partners of the food bank.

Mariner Finance’s President and CEO, and one of the founders of Jeffie’s Choice, Joshua Johnson, stated, “We would like to thank the Maryland Food Bank for giving us this opportunity to support our cause to end world hunger through local communities. We had such a wonderful and rewarding experience!”