They say there is no such thing as a free lunch.

But in Kansas earlier this week, about 1,200 lucky folks got afree lunch, coffee, gift cards and cash during the Kansas Credit Union Association's Make a Differencecampaign.

The surprise give-a-ways were given out by employees from 11participating credit unions at seven locally owned coffee houses orcafes throughout the state. Each business had $1,000 to use in theform of cash or gift cards. Depending on the location, people weresurprised with a gift card, cash or a free purchase of coffee orlunch.

The Make a Difference campaign is way of publicly demonstratingthe credit union principles of people helping people and servingcommunities.

Naturally, the free lunches, coffees, gift cards and cash weregreeted with a lot “thank you's” and “wow, this is great!” both inperson and via social networks like Twitter and Facebook, saidSusan Dyer, communications director for the KCUA.

Dyer added that some hugs were exchanged and some consumersasked “what's a credit union?” This gave the credit union employeesa chance to explain how credit unions differ from traditionalbanks.

Credit unions that participated in KCUA's Make a Differencecampaign included: the $61 million Emporia State FCU in Emporia;the $8 million United CU in Ness City, the $38 million UnitedNorthwest FCU in Norton, the $346 million Mainstreet CU in KansasCity; the $20 million Reliance CU in Kansas City; the $183 millionEducational CU in Topeka; the $274 million Quest CU inTopeka; the $22 million New Century CU in Topeka, the $29million EquiShare CU in Wichita; the $208 million Mid American CUin Wichita, and the $78 million Wichita FCU in Wichita.

The league said it plans to hold another Make A Differencecampaign in October during International Credit Union Week.