CUs Help Alleviate Hunger, Celebrate Members & Support Libraries

A B-47E Stratojet military plane is unveiled at the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, where it will be permanently on display. The $796 million Kirtland Federal Credit Union in Albuquerque, N.M., contributed $10,000 for the renovation of the B-47E Stratojet military plane. The donation is part of Kirtland’s longstanding commitment to serving the military and honoring its history. On hand at the unveiling was Kirtland President/CEO Tom Shoemaker. “The long hours, diligent planning, and careful work of restoring this B-47 plane to its former glory is not just about displaying history,” he said. “It’s about connection. It’s about bringing the past alive in colorful, vivid focus, here, in the present. It’s about letting future generations see, in 3-D, the roots of our national pride and our dedicated military.”

We Share A Common Thread Foundation, the charitable arm of the $1.3 billion Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union in Lowell, Mass., presents a $1,500 check to Friends of the Dracut Library, the credit union’s third quarter Give-A-Click winner. From left to right are: Diane Annunziato, assistant director of Parker Memorial Library; Mark S. Cochran, president/CEO of Jeanne D’Arc; Gretchen Mayall, president of Friends of the Dracut Library and John Hassan, Secretary to Friends of the Dracut Library. The Give-A-Click program runs every quarter on the We Share a Common Thread Foundation website. Community members visit the site, learn about three worthy non-profit contestants, and cast their vote for the one they would like to support. The organization with the most votes at the end of the quarter is awarded a $1,500 donation from the foundation. Friends of the Dracut Library supports Parker Memorial Library by promoting awareness, raising funds, and sponsoring programs and events to benefit the library and community members who use its services. In 2017, there were 250 programs offered by the library, most of which would not have been available without the support from the Friends. The organization also provides a scholarship to one college-bound student each year. The donation from the Give-A-Click campaign will be used to expand the children, teen and adult programs at the library.

Employees from the $10.1 billion America First Credit Union in Riverdale, Utah, pose with donated turkeys. America First collected food items from all branches across Utah and southern Nevada for its 14th Annual Community Food Drive. All donations were taken by the Utah Food Bank and Three Square Food Bank on Oct. 25. With the help of the community and employees, the credit union collected 18,662 pounds of non-perishable food items and donated $5,000 worth of turkeys, which equates to 14,768 meals. The meals will provide 41 families with food for one month. The items will be distributed to local food pantries in advance of the holiday season.

Employees from the $90 million United Methodist Federal Credit Union in Montclair, Calif., present a $5,000 donation to the California Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church. The donation will benefits the first response team who served during the recent wildfires in the Southern California area.

Executives, managers and employees from the $23.6 billion Pentagon Federal Credit Union in Mclean, Va., present a $10,000 check to FOOD for Lane County leadership during a visit to FOOD’s distribution warehouse. FOOD for Lane County is a nonprofit food bank in Eugene, Ore., dedicated to alleviating hunger by creating access to food. The organization accomplishes this by soliciting, collecting, rescuing, growing, preparing and packaging food for distribution through a network of more than 150 partner agencies and distribution sites. The donation is part of PenFed’s commitment to giving $100,000 to nonprofit organizations this year. Each quarter, PenFed’s Eugene Service Center employees select local charities that align with the credit union’s core values of giving back and making a difference in the communities it serves.

Members from the $2.5 billion Robins Financial Credit Union in Warner Robins, Ga., pose next to a prize wheel. The prize wheel traveled around to several branches, where over $2,000 was given out to 100 lucky members for International Credit Union Day on Oct. 18. All 21 branch locations participated by offering refreshments and giveaways. International Credit Union Day is was created to honor those who have dedicated their lives to the movement, recognize the hard work of those working in the credit union industry and show members appreciation. The ultimate goal is to raise awareness about the great work credit unions are doing and give members the opportunity to get more involved.

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