KOKOMO, Ind.–Members of Solidarity Credit Union’s “Surprise Squad” did just what the name implies by picking up the tab for consumers around town.
The team, made up of six women who work at Solidarity CU, would approach someone at a gas pump, for instance, and then say, “Surprise! It’s our treat” before paying for that person’s gas.
The Solidarity Surprise Squad was launched approximately three months ago and has since gone out on surprise missions every three to four weeks. The CU said the idea originated with CEO Melissa Domingues. A credit union in Texas, where she used to work, had a similar program, and Domingues decided to start one of her own in Kokomo as a way to give back to the community, said KokomoPerspective.com.
In addition to the gas station, the Surprise Squad also paid for the purchases of the 17 people who were inside a Dollar General Store. Solidarity’s team, wearing red T-shirts that read #itsourtreat and “Solidarity Surprise Squad,” also paid for people’s desserts at another store, KokomoPerspective.com reported.