FIVE donates $8,000 for Union County projects in 2020

As the old adage goes, “It takes a village.” That’s the sentiment behind a grassroots organization raising money – $5 at a time – for local projects that benefit the community.

The group known as “FIVE” is made up of Union County residents, each of whom commit to donating $5 a month. The group has donated to numerous local causes this year, including those in relation to the Gibson Memorial Library, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Green Valley State Park and Future Farmers of America. In 2020 alone, the group raised $8,000 for local needs.

FIVE board member Amy Lohoff said the group stands to “fund, inspire, value and encourage.” By joining FIVE’s Facebook group, citizens can participate in voting on which local charity the month’s donations will go toward. Members are also encouraged to send suggestions to the board on which five causes should be added to each monthly poll. Once the board chooses the top five suggestions, the members get to vote in an online poll to determine the winner. At the end of each month, a $500 donation is given to the cause with the highest votes.

Lohoff said the group’s mission, by strength in numbers, is providing a way for citizens to participate in bettering their community.

“Not everyone has hundreds to fork over on worthy causes, but almost everyone can find $5 a month to donate,” she said.

Board president Amanda Creighton said the group began in May 2019 after an online discussion between her and Lohoff. The following day, she said the group was formed with five board members — also including Jim Lippold, Courtney Wiltermood, and Jenny Moon — via Facebook.

“And then, it went crazy,” Creighton said. “Our goal was just to have 100 people donate $5 a month for the year, and that would give us $500 a month to donate to somebody. And then, we got tons and tons — it just went crazy, like 500 members.”

In September, FIVE voted to donate $500 toward clean-up stations for dog walkers both in Creston and Afton. And due to a surplus that month, the group was also able to donate $500 to the runner-up in the poll — the Gibson Memorial Library’s youth programs.

“Support from community partners like FIVE is critical during these difficult and challenging times,” Library Director Aric Bishop said, in a Facebook post after receiving the funds Oct. 8. “It is because of groups and organizations like FIVE that the library is better able to serve our community, specifically our youth, and without generous funding like this the library could not make as strong and lasting of an impact.”

In October, the group voted to provide local nursing homes with bird feeders. In November, a donation was given to the Creston and East Union FFA Chapters to use for their holiday light display, “Driving Thru December,” which many residents attended at the Union County Fairgrounds.

Creighton said they had a surplus this month, so FIVE was able to donate to all five causes voted on in December. The three nominees with the most votes received $500 each. This included Creston Food Shelf for providing Christmas dinners to local families, Stalker Chevrolet’s Toy Drive for toys to be distributed locally through MATURA, and Southwest Iowa Provider Awareness for stocking stuffers to be provided to more than 300 children. Additionally, $250 each was given to Creston Arts and Akin’s Operation: Be the Light.

“It’s an awesome group,” Creighton said. “I love it.”

In 2020, FIVE also gave to Friends of Green Valley State Park, the food bank through MATURA, Dairy Queen for $5 coupons for Union County’s graduating seniors, the Department of Human Services to provide backpacks for foster children, the Union County Veterans Wall project through the VFW, both Creston and East Union school districts providing masks during the pandemic, and MATURA’s Adopt-a-Family program through the Creston FFA Chapter — with a grand total of $8,000 given this year.

“A little bit — $5 per person — can do a lot,” Creighton said.

Many of FIVE’s donations benefitted families at Christmas this year. Lohoff said she learned of the Adopt-a-Family program through Creston Community High School FFA advisor Kelsey Bailey.

“I found out that those students, every year, when adopting the families is almost wrapped up, they go and take all of the left over families. And even if they don’t have enough money to cover it, they pull it out of their own account. So, I thought maybe I could just get these students to go and spend our money and help extra families,” Lohoff said.

Bailey said that the Creston FFA Chapter has been participating in MATURA’s Adopt-a-Family program for many years.

“This year we were able to purchase gifts for 23 children (and) the contribution from FIVE allowed us to adopt 21 more children, for a total of 44. We know it is important for families in our community,” she said.

For those interested in becoming a part of FIVE, Lohoff said the board practices transparency with those who donate. Group members are able to watch the polls via Facebook as members vote on different causes.

“They watch the tally on the poll, so they know that their vote counts, and it’s not just us deciding where their money goes. And I think that’s a big deal. You know, it is only $5 a month, but it’s the bigger picture that matters. ... They get a sense of helping out their community,” Lohoff said.

Lohoff said for submitted ideas, the board asks for a contact person in relation to the cause, so that they can first verify that the submitted organization would like to participate.

“But if anybody sends us ideas, we try to make sure that they get on there at some point,” she said.

Creighton said this year, the group lost a lot of members due to COVID-19. As of Dec. 27, FIVE had 162 members. If the number of members drops below 100, the group will be unable to donate a full $500 each month to a local cause. Creighton said she would love to see more members.

“It’s fun. When we have more than 100, then it gives us extra money that we can do surprise stuff with,” Lohoff said.

Lohoff said the group likes to do extra votes and “yes or no” votes when they have additional funds. Last November, FIVE members voted ‘yes’ to provide 50 vouchers for 10-12lb Thanksgiving turkeys for families in need. The Creston Fareway vouchers were distributed through the Creston Area Food Pantry, and Fareway partnered with FIVE to cover any cost to the group exceeding $500.

FIVE is exclusively through Facebook, but anyone with an account can join. The polls, the voting, the gratitude and celebration over donations given and received — are all shared virtually through the group’s page, found at facebook.com/groups/441756876368157 or by accessing Facebook and simply searching “FIVE.”

“We encourage people to get on Facebook and find us and see what we’re all about, and maybe think about becoming a member and giving $5 a month to equal $500,” Creighton said.

Lohoff said those who want to join FIVE can send a monthly membership fee of $5 to PO BOX 237 in Creston, pay via Venmo @FIVE55, or donate in-person at House of Pain, 103 N. Elm St. or at the Iowa State University Extension Office, 500 E. Taylor St. The member’s Facebook name should be included with the fee. Membership fees are accepted on a month-to-month basis, or an annual fee many be given, if desired.

“And the more members we have, the more awesome things we can accomplish together,” Lohoff said.