LOMPOC, Calif.—A number of credit unions used the Columbus Day holiday to allow their staff to do good works in their respective communities.
The $945-million CoastHills Credit Union, for example, assembled bikes for kids.
All of the CU’s 250 employees, and their CEO Jeff York, headed to Santa Maria, Calif., to build more than 200 bikes, KSBY reported. The bicycles will be donated to local Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children, an organization that benefits abused and neglected children.
"It is going to make a difference," York told the news station. "I mean if you think about it, when you're a kid, having a bicycle is a big deal. We're gonna make a difference today."
The CU stated that it has a tradition of encouraging employees to focus on community service projects on Columbus Day.
Meanwhile, in Owatonna, Minn., HomeTown Credit Union took cupcakes to local emergency response personnel, visited shut-ins and helped clean up local trails as part of HomeTown Spirit Day on Monday. It was the first time the credit union has held the Spirit Day, but it said it hopes to do so annually.
HomeTown’s Julie Conlin said that with financial institutions having Monday off for Columbus Day, HomeTown wanted to thank those who serve in the community as well as spread cheer. HomeTown’s Faribault office also took part in HomeTown Spirit Day Monday.
HomeTown employees in Owatonna were slated to clean local parks and trails as well as paint a senior center in the afternoon, but most of the morning was devoted to visiting local emergency response workers, including at the Steele County Sheriff’s Office and the Owatonna Police Department, Conlin said.
As CUToday.info reported here, BECU closed Monday so that more than 1,500 employees could participate in financial education classes with local schools.