ROANOKE, Va.–Every Columbus Day since 2008, everyone at Freedom First FCU trades in ties for shop towels to help local nonprofit agencies with projects.
This year, 181 employees were honored to start out with breakfast at American Legion #3 in Salem and then help over 10 local Veteran groups across the Roanoke and New River Valleys during the day. In previous years, partnerships have included nonprofits ranging from Make-A-Wish Foundation to Goodwill Industries, to local faith based organizations.
“This is one of my favorite days at Freedom First. We get out into the community to serve, and it shows.” said Jeremy Waldoch, a staff member with Freedom First’s Community Development department. “We have made this a year-long project focused on Veterans, and so far have organized a community yard sale, food drives, monetary donation drives, and a plastic bag recycling drive. We’ve partnered with Trex Corporation to collect 500 lbs of plastic bags which they will manufacture into a park bench. Freedom First will donate this bench to one of our local Veteran groups. Collectively we were able to raise over $4000 through these projects and presented this to the Legion for their continued efforts with Veterans in our areas.”