Wisconsin's Credit Unions Uplift their Communities on CU Community Day

On Indigenous Peoples' Day, nearly thirty Wisconsin credit unions and The Wisconsin Credit Union League participated in the second annual CU Community Day, a community outreach event showcasing the ways credit unions give back to their communities throughout the year.

The event was held in conjunction with several other state League community outreach days across the country and highlights the sixth and seventh Cooperative Principles of Cooperation Among Cooperatives and Concern for Community.

As a result, Wisconsin's credit unions and The Wisconsin Credit Union League donated a minimum of 1,750 volunteer hours and nearly $4,000 with over 2,500 volunteers participating. Volunteer efforts included assisting at food pantries (including creating 500+ birthday kits), helping with highway cleanup efforts, partnering with local charitable organizations, and collecting hygiene items--just to name a few. 

Here's some of the ways credit unions participated:

Altra Federal Credit Union - Nearly 500 employees volunteered for over 40 organizations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Texas, Tennessee, and New Jersey through Altra's 7th Annual Altra Gives Back Day--from prepping community gardens to walking shelter dogs, painting fences, cleaning up trash, and so much more.  

Arcadia Credit Union - Arcadia staff collected donations and $300 for the Trempealeau County Humane Society. 

Brewery Credit Union - Brewery staff helped pack 6,046 pounds of food to feed 577 families at the Feeding America Milwaukee branch.

Capital Credit Union - 400 Capital employees volunteered at more than 16 different projects, including Baird Creek, L.H. Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve, Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, Green Bay Botanical Garden, Feeding America, Happily Ever After Animal Sanctuary, Inc., Heritage Hill State Historical Park, National Railroad Museum, Oshkosh Food Pantry, Shawano Habitat for Humanity, Sunshine Resources of Door County, Valley VNA Senior Care, YMCA of the Fox Cities (YMCA Child Learning Center, YMCA Heart of the Valley, YMCA Ogden), and YWCA Greater Green Bay.

Cloverbelt Credit Union - Cloverbelt staff split into seven groups to assist various local organizations. They helped clean at the Humane Society of Marathon County, they played BINGO with residents at North Central Health Care, they made 28 tie blankets for The Neighbors' Place, they weeded two gardens at The Women's Community, they helped with bulk mailed at The United Way, they made 25 birthday cake kits for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and they sorted and packaged diapers at The Babies' Place.  

Co-op Credit Union - Co-op's employees rolled up their sleeves and helped with fall cleanup efforts around the community as well painting, baking, and more. 

Fort Community Credit Union - Fort Community staff packed over 500 snack packs with a motivational message included for local food pantries to distribute to students experiencing food insecurity.

Fox Communities Credit Union - Fox Communities staff gathered donations from the Wise Women Gathering Place's wish list as part of their All Fox Family event. 

Governmental Employees Credit Union - Governmental Employees staff provided $1,000 to Summit Environmental School to help fund their nature-focused trips and activities and $1,000 to Hintgen Elementary School, where 75% students qualify for free or reduced meals, to keep their snack supplies stocked.

Gundersen Credit Union - Gundersen made tie blankets for the local Gundersen Health System Children's Miracle Network 2024 Heroes.  

LCO Federal Credit Union - LCO hosted a coat drive for the local Hayward school system.

Madison Credit Union - Madison staff assisted with cleanup efforts around the community. 

Marathon County Employees Credit Union - Marathon County Employees reflected on its giving in the past year, including supplying Christmas gifts to 30 North Central Health Care residents, raising through fundraisers over $1,400 for Children's Miracle Network/Marshfield Children's Hospital, picking up trash at Ghidorzi's Green and Clean Event, and gathering diaper and baby hygiene donations for The Babies' Place.

MCU Financial Center Credit Union - MCU Financial hosted a food drive to help benefit the Racine County Food Bank.

N.E.W. Credit Union - N.E.W. staff adopted and cleaned up two stretches of highway, made tie blankets for local nursing homes, and helped organize the storeroom at Rainbow House in Oconto.

Oakdale Credit Union - Oakdale staff prepared 100 "Birthday in a Bag" kits to donated to local pantries, while also assisting with landscaping, cleaning, and stocking shelves.

Park City Credit Union - Park City staff collected donations to benefit local schools and learning centers.

PCM Credit Union - PCM staff prepared birthday cake kits for local food pantries and put together gym bags with supplies for foster children aging out of the system. 

Prime Financial Credit Union - Prime Financial teamed up with Milwaukee's Kinship Community Food Center to address food insecurity in Milwaukee by launching a donation drive. At the conclusion of the drive, credit union members and staff donated over 450 pounds of non-perishable food items and $1,150. In November, staff will prepare hygiene kits, write letters to lawmakers in support of programs and policies to combat food insecurity, and  over 100 will volunteer at the Kinship Community Food Center.

Sheboygan Area Credit Union - Sheboygan staff volunteered a total of 76 hours at a local day care center, nursing home, and community garden.

Shoreline Hometown Credit Union - Shoreline Hometown staff assisted with cleanup on their stretch of adopted highway.  

Taylor Credit Union - Taylor staff helped organize costumes at AbbyColby Crossings Chamber of Commerce for their Christmas parade, prepped food for senior citizens at Black River Industries, painted the lower level of the chamber office at Medford Chamber of Commerce, cleaned tack, water tubs, and the property at Operation Horses Heal, and helped organize the office and assemble tables and chairs at Stepping Stones.  

UnitedOne Credit Union - UnitedOne staff collected spices to donate to food pantries in Sheboygan and Manitowoc. They also collected individually wrapped food items for Grow It Forward to put in the backpacks of kids experiencing food insecurity. 

Valley Communities Credit Union - Valley Communities collected non-perishable food items to donate to Community Center of Hope in Mosinee.

Westby Co-op Credit Union - WCCU staff assembled 450 kits, including hygiene, cleaning, birthday, and kids nighttime kits to donate to four different shelters in the community. They additionally made 50 tie blankets to donate to local EMS and firefighters. 

WESTconsin Credit Union - Over 170 WESTconsin staff prepared 180 tie blankets fo rthe Dunn and Eau Claire County Humane Societies, 200 birthday boxes for local food pantries, and 230 cards for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and Operation Gratitude. 

Winnebago Community Credit Union - Winnebago Community staff volunteered time with the City of Oshkosh Parks & Rec. Department, preparing Menominee Park and Zoo for new hours, Zooloween Boo, and Brews in the Zoo.

Wisconsin Medical Credit Union - Wisconsin Medical staff helped prepare meals at Feed My Starving Children. 

The Wisconsin Credit Union League also gave back for CU Community Day with a 3-hour volunteer shift at Second Harvest Food Pantry of Southern Wisconsin. Individual staff also donated funds to St. Jude's, drafted legal documents for a West Allis charity, and donated children's clothing. 

Countless photos of credit unions in action are available on The League's Facebook page. We hope you'll join us in 2025!