MORA, Minn.–SPIRE Credit Union here has helped clean a highway, held a food drive and won an award for its “reverse food truck.”
A group of SPIRE Credit Union employees gathered to pick up litter alongside a two-mile stretch of Highway 23 just west of SPIRE’s Ogilvie, Minn. branch. This long-standing commitment to creating a cleaner environment spans 26 years, with the first cleanup taking place on June 4, 1991. Laurie Leciejewski, SPIRE’s Milaca Branch Manager said, “It’s such a great program, and I find it rewarding to give back to the community.”
“I am so proud of our staff,” said Dan Stoltz, SPIRE President/CEO, “this event truly embraces SPIRE’s mission of improving lives in the communities we serve.”
Separately, as part of its Annual Meeting, SPIRE Credit Union held a food drive, accepting donations for Second Harvest Heartland, one of the nation’s largest, most efficient and most innovative food banks.
Enough food and money was collected to provide nearly 1,400 meals for local families. “I am proud to work for a company that gives back in so many ways. It is both personally and professionally rewarding to see all the guests bring in donations to help others,” says SPIRE Controller, Mary Doyle.
In addition, SPIRE was recognized with an award for its “reverse” food trucks, which are part of the SPIRE Food Truck competition, and corresponding reality TV show in the Twin Cities.
The SPIRE Food Truck recently garnered recognition from the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Diamond Awards for Marketing Excellence. SPIRE was awarded Category’s Best in the Multifaceted category, a distinction not easily earned and given to only one credit union in each award category. Category’s Best awards are only bestowed for the best examples of creativity, innovation, relevance and execution.
The overall goal of the SPIRE Food Truck is to give back to the areas served, its membership, and engage employees in a fun and new experience, the credit union said. Throughout 2016, the Food Truck visited nearly 50 events throughout the state. From the SPIRE night at the Ogilvie Raceway, to the Mears Park Food Truck Festival in Saint Paul, thousands of people were reached. SPIRE has merely scratched the surface on ways to give back to community with its Food Truck.