Waseca Area Neighborhood
Service Center

THE HOLIDAY BASKET PROGRAM AND THE COMMUNITY IMPACT The Holiday Basket drive was born in 2009 because of Brad and Trudi Conners and the dedicated iWealth team seeing a need. Brad shared, “The genesis of the food drive stemmed from our outreach to iWealth clients and the local community, seeking their financial support to ensure that local families would not go without a Christmas meal. Recognizing the seasonal need, we resolved to make a meaningful difference.” Since the inception of this program, the Waseca Food Shelf has partnered with iWealth to provide the makings of a Holiday meal by providing a “basket” of Holiday meal staples for applicants. Over the years, these collective efforts have received donations exceeding $118,726, a testament of the enduring generosity of our community. The impact of this drive ensures that Christmas meals are reality for Holiday basket applicants within Waseca County. What are the next steps in getting the meal supplies distributed? The Waseca High School students along with Food Shelf staff and dedicated volunteers assemble the food baskets. Next, Scouts BSA Troop 85, volunteers, Food Shelf staff and WANSC Board members do their part in the distribution of the baskets on the designated “Basket Pickup” day. Brad comments, “At iWealth, our commitment to community support stands as a core value, and these times, it resonates more profoundly. We remain deeply touched by the community’s unwavering endorsement of this noble cause.” In 2023, the Waseca Area Neighborhood Service Center (WASNSC) received a check from iWealth in the amount of $12,745. This is the result of both the community and iWealth clients’ donations totaling $9,745. However, this is not where the giving stops. The iWealth Foundation donated an additional $3,000 which annually allocates one percent of iWealth’s net profits to philanthropic endeavors.