DONATIONS

University of Tennessee Federal Credit Union, Knoxville, Tenn., has donated some 250 teddy bears to the Knoxville Police Department. The bears were collected through the credit union’s “Credit Union Bears for Cops” program. The bears will be given to officers to use whenever they are involved in a situation where a child has been traumatized by child abuse, domestic violence or other crimes against children. Fiberglas Federal Credit Union, Newark, Ohio, has recently donated 20 used computers to Goodwill Industries. The refurbished computers will be used to teach computer skills to the unemployed in free training classes. Constitution Corporate Credit Union, Wallingford, Conn., has raised over $10,000 for the Connecticut Credit Union Charitable Foundation through a Survivor-themed challenge. After splitting into five tribes, 63 staffers went out to raise funds for those in need while competing to keep their tribe on the Island of Rapa Nui. Complete with bandanas, flags and torches, tribes sold over 5,000 tickets. Weekly tribal councils were held to announce current standings for high-selling individuals and tribes. The Connecticut Credit Union Charitable Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides direct grants to in-state nonprofit organizations in need of financial support. MidWest Financial Credit Union, Ann Arbor, Mich., has recently collected and donated five large boxes and 15 bags of new and gently used clothing to House By The Side Of The Road, an agency that provides clothing free of charge to low-income families in Washtenaw County. Staff and members alike brought in clothing items ranging from pants and shirts, to hats and coats. Park Federal Credit Union, Louisville, Ky., has donated food and clothing to the less fortunate. Park FCU teams managed to collect 2,502 food items, 100 coats and 50 blankets. The credit union partnered with a local dry cleaner that graciously cleaned the items.The food was donated to Dare to Care and The Southeast Helping Hands, a division of St. Vincent DePaul. The coats were donated to Fern Creek United Highview Ministries. Tobyhanna Army Depot Federal Credit Union, Scranton, Pa., has participated in the annual Norman G. Fulkerson Memorial Bowling Tournament. TADFCU joined with other local credit unions to help the Wyoming Valley Chapter of Credit Unions support the Valley Santa and the SPCA. All participants donated $3 or a bag of dog food as an additional donation for the event. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is dedicated to the relief of suffering among animals and the promotion of humane education. Valley Credit Unions, Fresno, Calif., and the California Credit Union League have raised $21,779.50 for the Community Regional Burn Center. Twenty credit unions in five counties raised funds by selling mini posters of firemen’s helmets in each of their branches. Credit union participation was coordinated by Educational Employees Credit Union to coincide with the valley-wide Fill the Helmet campaign. The Fill the Helmet campaign involved Valley firefighters and local volunteers in several community events, which raised over $80,000 for the burn center.