RIVERSIDE, Calif.–Altura Credit Union’s annual “Holiday Hook Up” program gives employees an opportunity to request the one special item they would like to be “hooked up with” for the holidays. One employee, John Rodriguez, took the concept a step further when he asked for a hook up for an entire elementary school. His wish was granted and $1,500 worth of shoes, socks, underwear and other basic items were donated to the students of Liberty Elementary School in Riverside in time for the holidays.
Employees have a two –week window in which to submit their request to the Holiday Hook Up program.
“Sometimes, it’s something they wish for, but wouldn’t buy for themselves. Other employees write to request something for a coworker or a loved one,” said Michelle Gardner, Altura’s employee development manager. “Our goal is to ‘hook up’ as many employees as possible within our annual budget. Employees on our Events and Morale Committee review the requests to select the wishes we grant. This year have granted 46 of the 156 requests. It’s kept a surprise until we show up to fulfill the wish.”
Rodriguez, who works in Altura’s information services department, explained in his request that his wife, Norma, is a teacher at a school where many students face economic struggles.
“I would love it and be so grateful if Altura would consider Liberty Elementary School (my wife is a teacher there) as the recipient of my Holiday Hook Up Wish. . . Some of the staff and one awesome parent volunteer spend their own money to buy items such as socks and shoes for families with children that may not have the means to buy their students those items,” Rodriguez wrote. “Liberty's students, staff and I would be very grateful for a hook-up that would be a true blessing :) Thank you!”
Altura staff and Rodriguez made the delivery to the Liberty Elementary Principal Esther Garcia recently.
Rodriguez shared his gratitude in a note, “Altura’s big heart is going to help a lot of children…They made my Holiday Hook Up wish come true and it’s for the benefit of some of our community’s beautiful kids. I am so very grateful and blessed for the generosity and true sense of Christmas spirit Altura gives us all! My wife, Norma, Mrs. Esther Garcia and Liberty Staff are very grateful as well. I love my job because of the people I get to work with. Thank you Altura Credit Union.”