The holidays are just around the corner, making it a perfect time to show appreciation for those who have gone the extra mile to make our communities a better place throughout the year. In the spirit of the season of giving, First Trust Credit Union proudly presented the Center Township Trustee representing the local organization Adopt a Family with a check of $973.16 on Wednesday, December 13 at the credit union’s La Porte branch. The donation is just one of many ways the credit union is helping to give back to the communities it serves this holiday season across Northwest Indiana.
“Our staff and members donate money for the families, and they have been throughout this whole year,” said Branch Director Chrissy Warren. “We've been doing this for over 10 years and the money is raised by their donations, bake sales, and fundraising efforts of that nature.”
As a financial institution that strongly values helping others, First Trust employees and members have been giving back to local organizations for over a decade during the holiday season through their time, resources, and monetary donations. With a motto of “People Helping People,” serving others is very much ingrained into First Trust’s DNA.
“A large part of our philosophy is to give back to the community – our credit union’s philosophy is people helping people,” said Marketing Director Dorene Martinson. “That is what credit unions are based on and that's what we're all about, so giving back to the community is very important for us.”
The money from Wednesday’s check presentation will be going towards helping children and their families receive necessities, as well as special presents, to make sure they’ll have a Christmas that will forever and always be near and dear to their hearts despite any tough circumstances they may be currently enduring.
“It's for our Christmas families,” said Center Township Trustee Lisa Pierzakowski. “They get toys, a bed in a bag, a pillow, and then each of the families get a blanket and also a food box. In the food boxes, there’s everything for a Christmas dinner, along with the ham or a turkey. Everything's wrapped and ready to go right by the tree when the parents pick everything up.”
Over 68 children will be receiving donations through Adopt a Family thanks to First Trust’s help this holiday season. Being able to provide for these families means the world to Pierzakowski, who knows many tend to struggle this time of year.
“It's great because as everybody knows Christmas is a little harder for a lot of the families, so all the funds we receive will help make Christmas better for each of the families,” she said.
Adopt a Family is just one of many organizations that First Trust is helping out this holiday season. Fellow animal lovers and Tellers Kaitlyn Russell, Chloiee Tibbs, and Patricia Weathers have always been passionate about helping the four legged friends in their community and wanted to give some extra support to the La Porte County Animal Shelter this time around. A heartwarming doghouse display is additionally set up in the lobby of the La Porte branch as a means to support the fundraiser as well.
“We all had the idea – we're all animal lovers here, and we all have multiple pets of our own,” Russell said. “We thought it would be something cool to give back to the community because we are aware that the local animal shelter is very overrun and is in need of lots of supplies. It means a lot to be able to help the community that I've been born and raised into, especially one that I've been a part of for so long.”
The giving doesn’t stop at just these two organizations either. Each of First Trust’s branches are giving back through a variety of ways to help lend a hand to those in need.
First Trust’s Michigan City location, also its corporate office, is working with The Salvation Army of Michigan City and Open Door Adolescent Health Center. The Valparaiso branch partnered with Hilltop Neighborhood House providing over $1,100 in supplies for a sponsored classroom, and the Wheatfield branch also just wrapped up its angel tree fundraising for approximately 28 students at Wheatfield Elementary School.
“During the holiday season, our main charity that we work with in Michigan City is The Salvation Army,” Martinson said. “We’ve just wrapped up hosting one of the angel trees within our community. We had tags on the tree and our account holders and our employees could take a tag or two, to purchase a gift(s) for that age group, and I’m excited to say we collected over 80 gifts this year.”
While there may be an emphasis on giving back during the holiday season, First Trust also works to help out those around them year-round.
“Each of our branch locations work with local community charity partners throughout the year,” Martinson said. “Funds are raised on a regular basis by fundraising efforts organized by each branch, and also through our casual Fridays.”
Throughout the year, First Trust has casual jean days on Fridays where employees can dress more casual for a $3 or $5 donation to one of the charities the credit union supports. First Trust also accepts monetary donations for its charities throughout the year as well.
For more information on First Trust Credit Union, visit firsttrustcu.com.
