Credit Union Donates $1,000 to Christian Social Services
December 2, 2013
Hundreds of children will have gifts this holiday season thanks to Christian Social Services and the help of a $1,000 donation from Scott Credit Union.�
Christian Social Services, which operates in Belleville and East Alton, was the winner of Scott Credit Unions Make An Impact Facebook campaign. The campaign allowed area residents to nominate a cause for support and the winner was chosen by receiving the most votes on SCUs Facebook page.
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The Make An Impact donation will help Christian Social Services fund a Secret Santa program and a Foster Parent Support Group.
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"Both programs are very important to Christian Social Services and the mission of the agency," said Development/Communications Specialist Ashlee D. Ritchie. "The CSS Secret Santa program provides Christmas gifts for hundreds of children of all ages and backgrounds throughout Central and Southern Illinois. This year 230 children will be affected by the program in East Alton and the Make An Impact donation."
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The Secret Santa Program is run by volunteers and all of the gifts are donated from people within the community. The program aims to provide gifts to each child for Christmas morning, Ritchie added.
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"The foster parent support group allows for foster parents within the same community to come together. The group meets monthly and provides the foster parents with the camaraderie of individuals that share their frustrations, joys, and accomplishments," Ritchie noted. "During the meeting, Christian Social Services provides child care free of charge to the foster parents and offers light refreshments. In addition, the group invites speakers to come to the meetings to share insight into the child welfare system and to answer questions that the foster parents may have."
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"We were pleased with the nominations and voting during the Make An Impact campaign and happy to help fund these very positive programs that help people in our area," said SCU Community Relations Representative Lauren Hoefert. "Credit unions are really built on a people helping people philosophy and these programs are a perfect example of that idea."
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Scott Credit Union received about a dozen nominations for the Make An Impact campaign. Representatives from the credit union chose the finalists and then allowed people to vote for the winner on the SCU Facebook page.
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"We had some really amazing nominations from organizations doing great things to help other people in our area," Hoefert added. "It is impressive how many organizations are truly making an impact on other people at their times of need."
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Scott Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative that is member owned. The credit union shares its success with its members through better rates, lower fees and even a bonus dividend and loan interest rebate.
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Scott Credit Union is open to anyone who lives or works in a 17 county area, including Madison, St. Clair, Monroe, Randolph, Perry, Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Clinton, Marion, Bond, Macoupin, Montgomery, Fayette, Effingham, Williamson, and Jackson counties. Anyone who lives or works in St. Louis County, Missouri also can open accounts at SCU. Additionally, anyone active or retired military also can have accounts with Scott Credit Union.
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Scott Credit Union currently has 15 area locations: Scott Air Force Base, East Belleville, Fairview Heights, Collinsville, OFallon, Edwardsville, Waterloo, Highland, Caseyville, West Belleville, Millstadt, Mascoutah, Troy, Wood River and its Home Office in Edwardsville.
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For details on opening accounts at Scott Credit Union, visit www.scu.org, call 1-800-888-4728, or stop by any of the credit unions branches.
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PHOTO: Scott Credit Union recently presented a $1,000 check to representatives from Christian Social Services in East Alton as the result of the agency being voted the winner of this years SCU Make An Impact campaign. Pictured are, from left, CSS Licensing Specialist Leslie Boyd, SCU Community Relations Representative Lauren Hoefert and Amanda, who is a foster parent through CSS.