Community Involvement with Mountain Credit Union

MOUNTAIN CREDIT UNION BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS AND TEAMWORK IN THE COMMUNITY

Partnerships and teamwork are the things that make it possible to meet the needs of families, children and the elderly in our communities. Mountain Credit Union staff work to build partnerships with other businesses and agencies in order to meet as many community needs as possible.

Mountain Credit Union staff members live and work in the communities that we serve. They see and hear of needs in the community and make efforts to reach out to help. The credit union philosophy is “people helping people”. Here at Mountain Credit Union we follow this philosophy in more than the day-to-day operations of the credit union. We reach out to those in our community and try to provide, teach, support, encourage and motivate people who may need to be uplifted.

All of the Mountain Credit Union staff members say that they find community involvement rewarding and worthwhile! It is a good feeling to know that you have made a difference in someone’s life!

What do Mountain Credit Union staff members do to help their community?

- Mountain Credit Union supports the Eblen Charities Food for Thought Program. Food for Thought works within the local school systems to provide food for local children and their families. Operating under the premise that children cannot learn if they are hungry, this partnership serves hundreds of children each year. In addition to providing food through the Manna Food Bank, Food for Thought also provides breakfast and lunch to numerous children in our school system. The program allows children to walk through the line as their friends do and pick up their breakfast and lunch no differently than their classmates. Mountain Credit Union helped to raise money for the Food for Thought program by participating in the annual WNC Chapter Silent Auction. Mountain Credit Union provided over 100 items for the auction.

- Mountain Credit Union staff members participated in several fundraisers throughout the year for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. In addition to the MS Walk, held on April 8, 2006, the employees had a bake sale, hotdog sale, basket raffle and took donations for the MS Society.

- K.A.R.E. of Haywood County stands for Kids Advocacy Resource Effort. The mission of K.A.R.E. is to prevent child abuse and coordinate treatment for children and families who suffer from abuse. Mountain Credit Union is proud to Contribute to the K.A.R.E. project by participating in the annual Jawbones (Dentists) vs. Sawbones (Doctors) Basketball Game. Mountain Credit Union staff attended the K.A.R.E./Project Vigil for abused children. We painted flower pots that were displayed at the K.A.R.E. office with flowers in them. Mountain Credit Union also raffled off a Dollywood Theme Park package with proceeds going to K.A.R.E.

- It is very rare to find a person that has not been touched in some way with the tragedy of cancer. Because of this there are many employees at Mountain Credit Union that find it in their heart to participate in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life. To raise money for Relay For Life the staff members sold stars for donations in the office and participated in the run/walk. Staff members also collected lids for the Yoplait Yogurt “Save Lids to Save Lives” campaign. Other American Cancer Society events that employees were involved in was: Notes to Neighbors Campaign, and the Cancer Survivor Dinner. Mountain Credit Union was recognized as one of the Top Fundraising Teams in the Canton, NC Relay Walk. Employees of MCU walked in the Canton and Franklin North Carolina Relays!

- Mountain Credit Union staff members collected food items for several local pantries including:

Our members contributed items as well as staff members. The total amount of food collected and delivered by Mountain Credit Union was over 1,000 pounds.

- Mountain Credit Union staff members volunteer on a monthly basis to purchase, buy and prepare food for the ABCCM Women and Children Center. This is a shelter for women and children who are homeless. The shelter can hold approximately 50 residents. The best part of this for the staff members is that they know the women and children go to bed on a full stomach that night and the mothers don’t have to wonder where that meal will come from!

- Mountain Credit Union celebrated NASCAR Day on May 2, 2006 by allowing staff to dress in their favorite NASCAR apparel and decorate the office lobbies in NASCAR memorabilia. Members gave donations based on their “favorite” driver.

- Mountain Credit Union staff members collected and delivered handmade quilts to the Neo-Natal Unit at Memorial Mission Hospital. The quilts and blankets are provided to babies and their families in an effort to make the stay at the Neo-Natal Unit a happier and less stressful time.

- Mountain Credit Union staff members collected coats and blankets which were given to the Warm The Needy Community Project.

- The holidays bring special needs for the community. This is a time when heating bills are higher, coats and blankets are needed for warmth, and every child wants Santa to visit. Mountain Credit Union staff members do what they can to provide happy holidays for as many as possible!

- Mountain Credit Union staff members donated time at the Asheville Mall Ingles Giving Tree. The food items collected at the Giving Tree go to the Manna Food Bank for distribution to families in need.

- Mountain Credit Union staff members purchased Christmas gifts to be given out at the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Holiday Party.

- Mountain Credit Union staff members have fundraisers throughout the year to raise money for the Holiday Angels program. This program provides help for families and elderly people in the community that need heating oil, clothing, food, or Christmas gifts for children in need. The fundraisers consisted of hot dog sales, yard sales, car washes, raffles and bake sales.

- Mountain Credit Union staff members purchased toys and clothing for two special needs children. One child was deaf—and needed toys that were interactive with blinking and vibrations. The other child had a learning deficiency that required special toys.

- Mountain Credit Union staff members have a strong belief that education is the key to breaking the cycle of hardships in life. Mountain Credit Union staff work to educate all ages, from preschool to adult, on financial topics such as budgeting, setting financial goals, managing credit, insurance, and careers. A nine member Youth Financial Advisory Committee works hard to reach out to school and community leaders to let them know about the free resources available.

- Mountain Credit Union staff members participated in the “Read To Me” project through the Haywood County Public Library. Staff members visited local day care and pre-school classes and read to the children. A free book was given to every child in attendance.

- Mountain Credit Union awards $3,000 in scholarships to deserving each year. This program provides $500 educational scholarships to one member from each of our offices either entering or attending an accredited two or four-year college.

- In October of every year, Mountain Credit Union honors its’ members on International Credit Union Day. It is our day to thank our members for being loyal and dedicated to THEIR credit union. Without our members, Mountain Credit Union could not continue to grow and prosper. Come celebrate with us on the third Thursday in October!

Mountain Credit Union staff participated in team building activities during 2006. As part of these activities the staff made a choice “to create a relationship that goes beyond banking”. Part of this goal is to reach out to the community to be a worthwhile and vital community business that gives back to the community.