SBRG Success Stories
The Atlantic Federal Credit Union Donates $50,000 in Federal Home Loan Bank of New York
Small Business Recovery Grants to Local Nonprofit Organizations
December 11, 2023
SPRINGFIELD, NJ – The Atlantic Federal Credit Union (“The Atlantic”) distributed $50,000 in grant funding to five local nonprofit organizations through the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Small Business Recovery Grant Program (“SBRG”). The SBRG is designed to support the financial security and health of organizations that have faced economic challenges due to the rate environment, inflation, supply-chain constraints, and/or rising energy costs.
The SBRG began in 2017 in response to hurricanes in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Program relaunched in 2020 and was made available again in 2021 to aid small businesses and nonprofit organizations facing challenges due to the Coronavirus pandemic. By participating in the SBRG this year, The Atlantic was able to grant $10,000 each to Bianca F.L.O.W.E.R.S. Inc. in Plainfield, Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey, Mobile Meals of Westfield, St. Joseph Social Service Center in Elizabeth, and The SHARE Alliance in Springfield.
“Thank you to the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York for their partnership and the opportunity to extend recovery grants within the communities we serve,” shared The Atlantic Federal Credit Union Chief Executive Officer Anthony Mero. “The SBRG funding will help our deserving recipients continue their selfless work throughout Essex and Union counties – ensuring community members in need have access to food, clothing, social services and other crucial resources through the holiday season and beyond.”
Bianca F.L.O.W.E.R.S. Inc.: Founded in 2015, the mission of Bianca F.L.O.W.E.R.S. Inc. is to provide food, clothing, and services for the homeless population and families in crisis that are in need of temporary help. Bianca F.L.O.W.E.R.S. hosts a food pantry open to community members in need every second, third and fourth Tuesday of each month at the Boys & Girls Club at 145 Park Avenue in Plainfield. Pictured left to right are Adam Cadmus, Chief Experience Officer at The Atlantic; Dr. Linda M. Closs, Founder and President of Bianca F.L.O.W.E.R.S. Inc.; Carla White-Garrett, Community Engagement Representative at The Atlantic; Dennis A. Closs, Grocery and Graphics Manager at Bianca F.L.O.W.E.R.S. Inc.; and Anthony Mero, Chief Executive Officer at The Atlantic. Learn more at https://www.bflowersinc2021.com/.
Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey: The mission of Jewish Family Service of Central NJ, a non-sectarian health and social service agency, is to strengthen family life and encourage personal growth by providing specialized quality services to individuals and families in need in Union County. The Agency is a licensed mental health outpatient agency and a licensed and accredited homecare agency. A diverse staff who speak 11 languages provides a full range of services from mental health counseling, to Kosher Meals On Wheels, to an active Food Pantry and Urban Community Garden. Pictured left to right are Adam Cadmus, Chief Experience Officer at The Atlantic; Carla White-Garrett, Community Engagement Representative at The Atlantic; Peter Jacob, Director of Housing Services at Jewish Family Service of Central NJ; Anthony Mero, Chief Executive Officer at The Atlantic; Tom Beck, Executive Director at Jewish Family Service of Central NJ; and Janine Grieco, Director of Member Engagement and Delivery at The Atlantic. Learn more at https://jfscentralnj.org/.
Mobile Meals of Westfield: The mission of Mobile Meals of Westfield is to serve neighbors in need by preparing and delivering nutritious meals and providing vital and caring contact. Mobile Meals of Westfield provides prepared, affordable hot meals delivered Monday through Friday to those individuals unable to provide meals or shop for themselves. The organization serves Clark, Cranford, Fanwood, Garwood, Mountainside, Scotch Plains and Westfield. Pictured left to right are Adam Cadmus, Chief Experience Officer at The Atlantic; Josephine Walsh, Operations Manager at Mobile Meals of Westfield; Carla White-Garrett, Community Engagement Representative at The Atlantic; and Anthony Mero, Chief Executive Officer at The Atlantic. Learn more at www.mobilemealsofwestfield.org.
St. Joseph Social Service Center: Since 1983, St. Joseph Social Service Center has served the materially poor and homeless community of greater Elizabeth, New Jersey, by providing basic human needs such as food, clothing and medications, as well as a wide range of services and programs to help them acquire the material goods and social services they need to live with dignity. St. Joseph Social Service Center’s range of services include a food pantry, health and wellness programs, mental health counseling, an Adult Learning Center, access to clothing and household items, and more. Pictured left to right are Mary Phillips, Development Director at St. Joseph Social Service Center; Bernadette Murphy, Executive Director at St. Joseph Social Service Center; Tama Hampton, Volunteer Coordinator at St. Joseph Social Service Center; Carla White-Garrett, Community Engagement Representative at The Atlantic; Anthony Mero, Chief Executive Officer at The Atlantic; and Adam Cadmus, Chief Experience Officer at The Atlantic. Learn more at www.sjeliz.org.
The SHARE Alliance: The SHARE Alliance is a consortium of several congregations and other interested parties, including the Springfield Rotary Club, Springfield Unity Project (SUP), Springfield Chamber of Commerce, and more, dedicated to the proposition that no one should go to bed hungry, unless they want to, or wonder where their next meal will come from. Under the sponsorship of the First Presbyterian Church of Springfield, SHARE seeks to approach the issue of food security in Union County with a three-prong tactic of increasing availability of healthier food, coordinating their distribution, and promoting their right use in the kitchen. These objectives are achieved through the establishment of a Community Pantry and Community Kitchen that will operate from the Parish House, located at 37 Church Mall, Springfield. Pictured left to right are Rev. Reginald Harris, member of the Board of Directors of SHARE Alliance and Associate Pastor at Antioch Baptist Church in Springfield; Carla White-Garrett, Community Engagement Representative at The Atlantic; Rev. Dr. Roberto Fois, Associated Pastor of Outreach & Community Engagement at the Presbyterian Church and Acting Executive Director of the SHARE Alliance; Natasha Newsom, Branch Supervisor at The Atlantic; and Anthony Mero, Chief Executive Officer at The Atlantic. Not pictured from the SHARE Alliance are Jim Bover, member of the Board of Directors (and Director of Ren Cares at Renaissance Church in Springfield); Andrea Holley-Blair, Co-President (and a leader of the Springfield Unity Project [SUP]); Russell Hovland, Treasurer (and a member of Renaissance Church); Carol Kaiser, Secretary (and a deacon at the First Presbyterian Church at Springfield); Mary Odusanya, member of the Board of Directors (and representative of the Rotary International Springfield Chapter); and Kristin Ruebling-Jass, Co-President (and a member of Session at First Presbyterian Church at Springfield). Learn more at www.share-alliance.net.
About The Atlantic Federal Credit Union
The Atlantic Federal Credit Union was founded in 1935 as a not-for-profit financial cooperative to meet the savings and borrowing needs of Members. Today, The Atlantic Federal Credit Union exclusively serves Essex and Union counties in New Jersey with financial wellness resources, competitive rates and technology-driven solutions for personal and business banking. For full eligibility criteria and more information, visit TheAtlanticFCU.com.
The 2023 SBRG Program is intended to support the financial security of qualifying organizations that face economic challenges due to the rate environment, inflation, supply-chain constraints, and/or rising energy costs by partnering with members to provide grants.
