CUs Give to Local Nonprofits, Overseas Troops & Food Banks

The $8.3 billion, Hauppauge, N.Y.-based Teachers Federal Credit Union recently donated $1,000 to The Ward Melville Heritage Organization in honor of its newest branch in Stony Brook, N.Y. The Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s education department offers over 70 multidisciplinary educational programs and performances year-round for children and adults, sharing Teachers’ philosophy of offering educational opportunities for anyone and everyone in the community. Pictured from left to right are Teachers President/CEO Brad Calhoun, The Ward Melville Heritage Organization President Gloria Rocchio and Teachers Chief Experience Officer Inna Sprague.

From left to right, LorMet Community Federal Credit Union President Daniel Cwalina and LorMet Vice President Shavena Brown visit Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio on Nov. 23, presenting Second Harvest President Julie Chase-Morefield with $24,100 raised through LorMet’s fifth annual member match campaign. Since 2016, the $210.7 million, Amherst, Ohio-based LorMet has donated over $74,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank, providing over an estimated 370,000 meals for local families. The food bank’s services have been in high demand since the onset of the pandemic, nearly doubling 2019 levels.

Credit unions in the Pacific Northwest came together on Nov. 12 for the Northwest Credit Union Association’s virtual “Cheers & Chocolates” auction to benefit eight Children’s Miracle Network hospitals serving Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The attendees were inspired by the event’s Miracle Child, 15-year-old Elle Fisher from Silverton, Ore. (pictured), who was born with hemifacial macrosomia. Credit unions bid on items including electric cars to be presented to each of the CMN hospitals, raising $323,000 for those alone. Other popular items included a coastal weekend getaway, a VIP winery tour, 15 pounds of Alaskan King Crab and a package to help Fisher sell lemonade and mistletoe to raise money for the hospital where she has been treated. By the time the night was over, credit unions had contributed $700,000.

Service members and volunteers from the $3.2 billion, Warner Robins, Ga.-based Robins Financial Credit Union prepare to ship care packages put together by credit union employees to deployed troops serving overseas during the holidays. As a part of this annual collection, Robins Financial provided a variety of items from snacks and grooming items to magazines and batteries. The credit union also partnered with a local elementary school to provide hand written notes from students. The packages will be sent to troops deployed from Robins Air Force Base.

The $1.38 billion, Redwood City, Calif.-based San Mateo Credit Union encouraged members to use their SMCU debit and credit cards for a purpose on Oct. 15, International Credit Union Day. For every use that day, SMCU pledged to donate 25 cents to Second Harvest Food Bank of Silicon Valley. In all, SMCU members conducted nearly 40,000 debit and credit card transactions on Oct. 15, resulting in a $10,000 donation to Second Harvest that will help provide 20,000 meals. Pictured are Wade Painter (right), president/CEO for SMCU, and Lejla Bojer, corporate philanthropy officer for Second Harvest of Silicon Valley.

Branch Manager Regina Seabrook (second from right) along with fellow Visions Federal Credit Union employees from the Rochester, N.Y., branch (from left) Sarah Parton, Lyna Som and Jessica Thorne deliver individually-packaged hats, gloves, neck warmers and face masks to the Thomas P. Ryan Rec Center in Rochester. The delivery of 80 winter apparel items was part of the Visions Acts of Kindness – projects that allow Visions to give back and say thank you to the communities it is a part of.

Please send your Community news items to Natasha Chilingerian at nchilingerian@cutimes.com.