BY KAREN BOSSICK

Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance are donating $10,000 to The Hunger Coalition as the result of a nomination by Mark Balcos of Wood River Insurance.

The donation is being made as part of an Emergency Community Support Grant to help independent insurance agents give back to their local community through the COVID-19 crisis.

“My team and I have recognized the hard work and dedication performed by The Hunger Coalition during this pandemic and we are incredibly thankful for the Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance for providing extra funds to help the community when we need it most,” said Balcos. “The Hunger Coalition has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and the $10,000 donation will help them continue to make a difference to the community they serve.”

The Hunger Coalition is providing a record number of emergency food packages, serving them curbside at distribution locations. The coalition has provided food for nearly 500 families a week with demand growing each day. In the first four weeks of the COVID-19 crisis in the Wood River Valley, they fed more individuals through their food pantry than they did in all of 2019.

The Coalition is also providing supplemental meals for students on free and reduced lunches by providing them with food boxes to ensure they don’t go hungry.

The Hunger Coalition will use the $10,000 donation to replenish its pantry. The funds will also help provide additional protective gear, such as masks and gloves, to keep volunteers safe.

Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance have a rich history in supporting local and national causes on the corporate level with the Liberty Mutual Foundation, Safeco Foundation, the employee involvement program Liberty Torchbearers, as well as through its Independent Agent Giving programs.

In addition to $1 million for the emergency community support grants, Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance already committed to invest $375,000 into local nonprofits in 2020 through the Independent Agent Giving programs, Make More Happen and Change Agents.

“The goal of the Emergency Community Support Grants is to help our independent agents make an immediate impact during this critical time in the local communities where they live and work,” said Alexis Holzer, Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance Independent Agent Giving Program Manager.