CUs Support Single Parents, Domestic Violence Survivors & Grieving Kids

The $950 million One Nevada Credit Union in Las Vegas, Nev., donates $500 each to The Food Bank of Northern Nevada, The Children’s Cabinet and Junior Achievement of Northern Nevada, thanks in part to Food Truck Friday attendees and their coloring skills. From left to right, Joan Griswold and Jocelyn Lantrip of the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Kristin Loebbecke of The Children’s Cabinet, Lisa Jansen of One Nevada and Kristin Reagan of Junior Achievement of Northern Nevada pose in front of a wall filled with colorful drawings. Each week during Food Truck Friday, event attendees of all ages stopped by the One Nevada booth and spent time coloring drawings to raise funds for the local nonprofits. One Nevada collected the drawings and put them on display weekly. For every drawing received, One Nevada donated $1. The event was so successful that One Nevada decided to round up and match the donation, allowing it to donate $500 to each nonprofit.

The $518 million Peach State Federal Credit Union in Lawrenceville, Ga., contributed $10,000 to help put the finishing touches on Warrick Dunn Charities’ 171st Home for the Holidays celebration. From left to right are Alicia Fitts and Ed Presnell, business development team members for Peach State; Nailah, homeowner and Home for the Holidays recipient; and Warrick Dunn, founder of Warrick Dunn Charities. The Home for the Holidays program helps single-parent families, who are actively working, by providing them with home furnishings and down payment assistance. The homeowner is a single mother of three and veteran of the Army Reserves who volunteers in the community and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

Larry Swartz (right) of the $1.7 billion OCCU in Eugene, Ore., and Heather Krieves (left) of Sheppard Motors, present a $1,000 donation to Kim Lax (center), development and resource director at Womenspace. Womenspace has been providing safety, hope and healing to survivors of intimate partner violence for more than 40 years.

From left to right, Jackie LaPorte, financial services representative at the $1 billion Merrimack Valley Credit Union in Lawrence, Mass., and Tracy Dunbar, secretary at Timony Grammar School in Methuen, Mass., pose with treats they gave to staff and teachers. Over the course of one week in September, employees from MVCU and employees from the $378 million, Bridgewater, Mass.-based Bridgewater Credit Union, a division of MVCU, surprised community members in both regions with random acts of kindness. The credit unions spent nearly $6,000 performing good deeds for strangers. Together, more than 40 MVCU and BCU employees logged nearly 50 hours and impacted hundreds of community members.

Barbara Mead from the $2.7 billion Robins Financial Credit Union in Warner Robins, Ga., presents a $5,000 donation to Dawn Rozar and the staff of Heart of Georgia Hospice. Robins Financial recently sponsored Camp WINGS by contributing $5,000 to the Heart of Georgia Hospice. This is the 20th year for Camp WINGS. Heart of Georgia Hospice Camp WINGS is held for youth ages 6 to 16 who are grieving the loss of a loved one. In addition to normal camp activities, the children receive free grief counseling while living among people their own age who have experienced similar situations. The children learn about the grieving process and how to move forward with their lives.

Boxcar drivers prepare for a race at the 10th annual Box Car Rally hosted by the $1.7 billion Achieva Credit Union in Dunedin, Fla. The event was originally inspired by the movie “The Little Rascals.” The Box Car Rally attracts thousands of spectators to watch nearly 300 races between boxcars made out of everything from surfboards to filing cabinets, as well as sleek All-American Soap Box Derby style cars. Since its inception, the event has raised $200,000 for local schools across Pinellas County in Florida.

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