Meriwest Credit Union, San Jose, Calif.,delivered over 1,000 pounds of presents to the Family Giving Treeagency for redistribution to underprivileged children. The creditunion also rose over $1,000 in monetary donations. Family GivingTree serves 240 social service agencies in the Bay area and is oneof the largest gift-giving programs in the nation. The agency workswith businesses, service organizations and individuals to ensure toprovide for needy children in the Bay Area during theholidays.

Credit Union ONE, Ferndale, Mich., partnered withVolunteers of America for its adopt-a-family program to be acorporate wide sponsor of 19 families within the Detroit area.Employees provided gifts, clothing and food for families in needthis holiday season. Employees not only gave monetary donations butvolunteered to shop, wrap and deliver packages for the agency. Thecredit union also employed a toy drive for the U.S. Marine CorpsReserve Toys for Tots program. Toys were collected at all nineteencredit union branches and employees and members contributeddonations to the program.

Hawthorne Credit Union, Naperville, Ill.,raised $180 for LOAVES & FISHES Community Pantry byparticipating in jeans day. Employees purchased the right to wearjeans on certain days by donating $5 to the community pantry. Eachdonation enables the food pantry to purchase $50 worth ofgroceries. Credit union employee volunteers also soliciteddonations of non-perishable food times from fellow employees andlocal businesses to donate to the community pantry. The creditunion donated enough canned and packaged groceries to fill 14bags.

Neighbors Credit Union, St. Louis, collectedmoney during the holiday season to provide gifts for a family inneed. Approximately 15 employees contributed to raise hundreds ofdollars to purchase a refrigerator, toiletries, educationalmaterials and toys and games for the family. The credit union alsodonated clothing, coats and gloves to the family. Neighbors hasparticipated in the Affton Chamber of Commerce's Helping Hands fundfor a many years. The chamber provides an anonymous list offamilies, along with the age of the children and their wish liststo its members. Businesses then adopt a family and provide theitems on the list.

GFA Federal Credit Union, Gardner, Mass., collected toysin its branches to deliver to children in need during the holidayseason. GFA members, staff and volunteers donated over 300 toys tocharitable groups in each branch's local community.

Santa Clara County Federal Credit Union, San Jose, Calif.,collected over 2,000 teddy bears this holiday season to bedistributed to local law enforcement agencies, school districts andorganizations the help children in the community. The effort ispart of County Federal's Teddy Bears on Patrol program. Theorganizations give the bears to children to help console them intraumatic situations.

Lacamas Community Credit Union, Camas, Wash., held aholiday dinner basket giveaway to benefit its members in needduring the holiday season. The credit union allowed members tonominated fellow member families in need and distributed basketsthat contained nonperishable foods, such as stuff mix, gravy andcranberry sauce for a holiday dinner. The baskets also includedgift cards to purchase fresh grocery items and a $25 gas card. Thecredit union plans to make its holiday dinner basket program anannual event.

First Capital Federal Credit Union, York, Pa.,employees and members added to the credit unions hat and mittentree during the holiday season to collect hats, mittens and scarvesto donate to the Children's Home of York. Four local familiesknitted and purchased warm weather gear to donate to the creditunion. The credit union donated approximately 60 hats, mittens andscarves to be distributed to the home this month. The credit unionhas been donating hats and mittens to the home for more than 10years.

Parkview Community Federal Credit Union,McKeesport, Pa., raised over $2,800 for Cathy G's Charities as partof its charity of the year program. The credit union raised thefunds during various events and fundraising efforts over the year.In addition to the fundraising, credit union employees alsoparticipated in a toy drive on behalf of the charity. Over 75 toyswere donated to the charity in addition to the monetarydonation.