Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union Employees Volunteer for Circles of Support
January 11, 2017
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. (Jan. 6, 2017) – Employees of the Affinity Plus Grand Rapids branches served participants at the annual Circles of Support Journey Dinner Dec. 28 in Grand Rapids.
Ann Mack, Grand Rapids East branch manager, said Affinity Plus has co-sponsored the dinner for several years and makes an annual donation to support year-round Circles of Support programming.
Circles of Support has been in place in Grand Rapids since 2004. It describes its three-part mission as:
- providing opportunities for people in poverty who are motivated to change their lives;
- changing the mindset of the community about how they view people in poverty;
- addressing policies and systems that need to change in order to making leaving poverty possible.
Circles of Support holds weekly meetings where people struggling with poverty related issues share home-made meals and discuss topics focused on building hope. Participants may choose additional activities that provide support, build skills and promote personal growth.
“During the year, we conduct financial-literacy classes for participants,” Mack said. “I think the participants and the Circles of Support team value that we never place judgment on the participants and always treat them with dignity and respect”.
Each year at the Journey Dinner, Circles of Support recognizes a service provider, employer or institution with a Dignity Award for its work to improve conditions for people in poverty. Affinity Plus received the award in 2013.
Pictured left to right: Nancy Loscheider; Heather Zielke; Missy Williams; Matthew Mallum; Lacy Daigle; and Kassie Grossman.