Credit Unions Support Community Members in Need

Employees from the $1.8 billion Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union in Brooklyn, N.Y., present a $450,000 check to PSFCU Scholarship Program recipients. The scholarships went to 388 students in seven states. As it has done for the past 18 years, the credit union reaches deep into the community to hand out annual scholarships to credit union members and their families to help them continue their higher education. To date, the financial institution has awarded nearly $4.5 million to approximately 4,000 students from its membership ranks since it first debuted its scholarship program in 2001. This year, Polish & Slavic identified 388 high-achieving students from New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Michigan and Florida to receive checks to help offset the cost of their college education.

New employees Nick Hiatt (left) and Justin Stafford (right) from the $1.7 billion Oregon Community Credit Union in Eugene, Ore., work to disassemble personal computers as part of a new employee volunteer day at nonprofit NextStep Recycling. It is an important way for new employees to begin to understand and embrace Oregon Community’s brand pillar of community involvement. Recently, nine new employees spent an afternoon at NextStep, an organization that recycles electronics to keep them out of the community waste stream. NextStep offers free recycling for area residents on all electronic items, from computers and phones to holiday lights and microwaves. Items that can be refurbished are readied and sold in NextStep’s onsite retail store, and those that can’t be refurbished are torn apart and recycled. NextStep offers training programs to help individuals develop job skills in recycling, computer building and retail. It also has a program to provide refurbished computers to low-income families.

Staff members from the $444 million, Lawrenceville, Ga.-based Peach State Federal Credit Union (from left to right) Nicole Casler, Alicia Fitts and Shonda Lundy stand next to the Golden Harvest Food Bank truck in front of Peach State’s Gracewood branch on Tobacco Road in Augusta, Ga. Peach State is sponsoring three of Golden Harvest Food Bank’s delivery trucks this year, contributing $15,000 to help feed people in more than 30 counties in the Central Savannah River Area and upstate South Carolina. The sponsorship allows retail stores to avoid wasting food by efficiently delivering it to people in need. The credit union has also collected and donated food to the Golden Harvest Food Bank warehouse in Augusta. Peach State collects non-perishable food items from members and staff at branches and its corporate headquarters throughout the year, and makes quarterly donations to food banks in its service area.

Participants of the 2018 Northwest Federal Credit Union Foundation’s Neon Night Glow Run begin the race. The Northwest Federal Credit Union Foundation, the charitable arm of the $3.4 billion, Herndon, Va.-based Northwest Federal Credit Union, held its 4th annual Neon Night Glow Run, raising $13,000 for the credit union’s annual Night of Magic, which the Northwest FCU Foundation hosts at Inova Children’s Hospital. There were 250 participants in this year’s race, with proceeds going toward the annual event, which creates a memorable evening of fun for critically ill children and their families.

Employees from the $1 billion Suffolk Federal Credit Union in Medford., N.Y., present a $1,000 check to the Commack Fire Department in an effort to support the charitable work of local organizations that serve the areas of Suffolk FCU branch locations. The donation will help to train future heroes, and was made in honor of late Master Sgt. Christopher Raguso, who volunteered his time to the local community.

Belco Community Credit Union’s Mechanicsburg branch manager, Tom Miller, presents a donation of $500 to Gather the Spirit for Justice, a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization in the Harrisburg, Penn., area. Volunteers from the $598 million Belco Community in Harrisburg served 253 meals for 154 guests at the most recent breakfast. Attendees received a hot meal and there were various activities for children in attendance. A free lunch is also served every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to noon. Programs are offered through Common Ground Community Center and Common Ground Café, located at the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg. The Harrisburg-based nonprofit organization provides meals, vouchers to obtain food from local food pantries, funds to acquire a photo ID, access to a telephone and restrooms, clothing, personal hygiene items, house cleaning items and more.

Please send your Community news items at Tahira Hayes at thayes@cutimes.com.