Holiday Giving Abounds at Credit Unions Nationwide

Employees from the $3.5 billion Mission Federal Credit Union in San Diego, Calif., donate a tree at the San Diego Center for Children. On Dec. 6, more than 27 trees were donated across the San Diego Center for Children’s eight program sites in order to bring much needed holiday cheer to the children and families they serve. The center provides therapeutic care, special education, foster care and transition age services to children and families struggling with mental, emotional and behavioral disorders, empowering the lives of more than 1,000 people every day. Many of the children and teens in therapeutic residential care remain at the center’s main campus during the holidays. The Mission Fed elves (employees) personally delivered fresh Christmas trees and decorated them based on themes selected by the center’s youth.

Katie Andrews from the $2.5 billion Robins Financial Credit Union in Warner Robins, Ga., presents a donation to WINGS Domestic Violence Shelter. The donation is part of the credit union’s 25 days of holiday giving. It selected 25 different organizations throughout its county radius and provided monetary donations to help the organizations with their holiday festivities.

Staff from the $659 million USF Federal Credit Union in Tampa, Fla., presents a $10,000 donation to Tampa General Hospital Foundation to purchase three high-tech UV lights to disinfect toys in the play area of TGH’s Children’s Medical Center. The lights, known as toy sterilizers, quickly kill viruses and bacteria, making the toys safe for children to play with.

The $325 million First New York Federal Credit Union in Albany, N.Y., displays its donated collection of 5,292 rolls of toilet paper and 2,280 rolls of paper towels. The donations came from all branches and company headquarters. First New York donated the toilet paper and paper towels to Catholic Charities Tri-County Services, an agency made up of programs that assist the needy with basic life necessities.

The $2.3 billion Royal Credit Union in Eau Claire, Wis., displays donated toys. Twenty-four Royal offices located in western Wisconsin and the Twin-Cities metro area worked together to bring in more than 900 toys to benefit families in need this holiday season during its annual “Giving Never Melts Away” toy drive. In partnership with The Salvation Army, the credit union collected new and unwrapped toys from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30. Following the collection of the donated items at Royal offices, The Salvation Army will distribute the toys to children of families in need within the communities Royal serves.

A 1956 school bus restored by the $1.2 billion Texas Trust Credit Union in Arlington, Texas, sits loaded with toys for needy boys and girls. Texas Trust continued its tradition of enthusiastic participation in the annual Toys for Tots drive held at the Mansfield ISD Performing Arts Center. The credit union delivered a busload of toys in its restored 1956 school bus and made a $5,000 donation. This is the seventh year Texas Trust has played a major role in the event sponsored by local news station Fox 4. Each year, Texas Trust has served as a collection point for toys, which are donated by its members and employees. Over the course of its participation in Toys for Tots, Texas Trust has donated $35,000 and thousands of toys to the organization.

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