Meriwest Credit Union, San Jose, Calif., delivered over 1,000 pounds of presents to the Family Giving Tree agency for redistribution to underprivileged children. The credit union also rose over $1,000 in monetary donations. Family Giving Tree serves 240 social service agencies in the Bay area and is one of the largest gift-giving programs in the nation. The agency works with businesses, service organizations and individuals to ensure to provide for needy children in the Bay Area during the holidays.

Credit Union ONE, Ferndale, Mich., partnered with Volunteers of America for its adopt-a-family program to be a corporate wide sponsor of 19 families within the Detroit area. Employees provided gifts, clothing and food for families in need this holiday season. Employees not only gave monetary donations but volunteered to shop, wrap and deliver packages for the agency. The credit union also employed a toy drive for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program. Toys were collected at all nineteen credit union branches and employees and members contributed donations to the program.

Hawthorne Credit Union, Naperville, Ill., raised $180 for LOAVES & FISHES Community Pantry by participating in jeans day. Employees purchased the right to wear jeans on certain days by donating $5 to the community pantry. Each donation enables the food pantry to purchase $50 worth of groceries. Credit union employee volunteers also solicited donations of non-perishable food times from fellow employees and local businesses to donate to the community pantry. The credit union donated enough canned and packaged groceries to fill 14 bags.

Neighbors Credit Union, St. Louis, collected money during the holiday season to provide gifts for a family in need. Approximately 15 employees contributed to raise hundreds of dollars to purchase a refrigerator, toiletries, educational materials and toys and games for the family. The credit union also donated clothing, coats and gloves to the family. Neighbors has participated in the Affton Chamber of Commerce's Helping Hands fund for a many years. The chamber provides an anonymous list of families, along with the age of the children and their wish lists to its members. Businesses then adopt a family and provide the items on the list.

GFA Federal Credit Union, Gardner, Mass., collected toys in its branches to deliver to children in need during the holiday season. GFA members, staff and volunteers donated over 300 toys to charitable groups in each branch's local community.

Santa Clara County Federal Credit Union, San Jose, Calif., collected over 2,000 teddy bears this holiday season to be distributed to local law enforcement agencies, school districts and organizations the help children in the community. The effort is part of County Federal's Teddy Bears on Patrol program. The organizations give the bears to children to help console them in traumatic situations.

Lacamas Community Credit Union, Camas, Wash., held a holiday dinner basket giveaway to benefit its members in need during the holiday season. The credit union allowed members to nominated fellow member families in need and distributed baskets that contained nonperishable foods, such as stuff mix, gravy and cranberry sauce for a holiday dinner. The baskets also included gift cards to purchase fresh grocery items and a $25 gas card. The credit union plans to make its holiday dinner basket program an annual event.