ATHENS, Ga.–During this year’s Southeast CUNA Management School, students took a break from the academic rigors of the program to put credit unions’ “people helping people” philosophy into action.
Thirty-four credit union professionals worked together to provide school supplies for students in need in the Athens, Ga. area. Members of the Class of 2019 purchased school supplies and then spent the afternoon decorating and assembling 125 supply bags, which were brought to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Athens.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Athens has provided a clean, healthy, and safe environment for youth of Clark County for over 50 years, where 71% of students in the Clarke County School System come from an economically disadvantaged background.
In addition to supply bags, the class provided 125 BRAVE bears that will be given to a foster care agency and distributed to children who are placed in foster care.
Amanda Blair, a student in the Class of 2019, was especially thankful for being able to participate in this service project. “You see, while my children attended elementary school, they were the ones receiving the school supply bags. Today, I was able to fill my own bags for children just like my boys all those years ago. I remember the kids coming home with school supplies from local charities and how thankful we were that someone had taken a financial burden off of our plate,” explained Blair.
The Southeast CUNA Management School is administered by the Southeast Regional Credit Union Schools (SRCUS). Students in the Class of 2019 serve credit unions from eleven states across the United States, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.