Advantis Credit Union, Portland, Ore., helped address the Portland area's need for nonperishable, high-protein foods for hungry families and children. The credit union raised $7,300 in cash contributions and encouraged members and neighbors to help them fill food barrels stationed in branch lobbies. Donors could buy $1 cans of tuna in Advantis branches. A total of 5,000 cans were purchased and donated to the Portland Police Bureau Sunshine Division.

Allegacy Federal Credit Union, Winston-Salem, N.C., held a holiday giveaway for five random members who used their Allegacy Visa check cards for signature-based transactions of $50 or more. The winners were each given $1,000 and were asked to select a charitable organization to receive an additional $1,000. The local charities chosen were Prodigals Community in Winston-Salem, Hospice and Palliative CareCenter, the Derrick L. Davis Forsyth Regional Cancer Center, the Joan & Howard Woltz Hospice Home, and the Ronald McDonald House.

Atlanta Postal Credit Union, Atlanta, hosted a gift-wrapping workshop. Employees were invited to bring their holiday gifts to the credit union's marketing department to be wrapped by fellow workers in exchange for a donation to Children's Miracle Network. Through employee donations and fundraising activities such as the gift-wrapping workshop, APCU employees, with the support of their board of directors, were able to raise $30,000 for Children's Miracle Network in 2010.

Insight Credit Union, Orlando, Fla., donated $2,000 to New Hope for Kids to provide much-needed Christmas gifts to children and families in the Central Florida area. The donation was made possible by generous member and employee contributions. New Hope for Kids has been working with local children since 1977 and offers the only comprehensive grief program that works with both children and families in Central Florida.

Los Angeles Federal Credit Union, Los Angeles, collected over 500 toys for its annual Toys for Tots toy drive aimed at spreading holiday cheer to local, needy children. For over 15 years, LAFCU has partnered with the U.S. Marines Corps Reserves Toys for Tots Program in inviting employees and members to bring new, unwrapped toys to one of the Credit Union's six branches during November and December. LAFCU has helped the Toys for Tots Program bring thousands of toys to less fortunate youngsters in Southern California.

Meriwest Credit Union, San Jose, Calif., hosted a holiday giving tree and provided volunteers at a local food bank last month. They collected over 600 pounds of toys for needy children and sorted through thousands of pounds of canned and dry goods for needy seniors, families and individuals throughout San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. The credit union raised an extra $400 for the giving tree program by hosting an employee jeans day fundraiser.

Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, East Lansing, Mich., helped provide gifts to local organizations with a holiday giving tree. A tree was placed in every MSUFCU branch in November with gift tags available for selection, each printed with an individual child's wish list. This year more than $2,000 was donated by members, and MSUFCU matched that amount to purchase gifts for the children. Seventy-one children from MSU University Housing and Child & Family Services Capital Area, and 90 children from the Auburn Hills Firefighters Helping Hands program, were provided with gifts on their wish list this holiday season.

Numerica Credit Union, Spokane Valley, Wash., engaged in a variety of charitable activities this holiday season. It donated two large moving boxes full of coats and outerwear to the Crosswalk Teen Shelter in Spokane, which received the coats on the morning of the shelter's Christmas party. It raised and donated $250 for the Douglas County Sheriff's Office's K9 Unit Fund, and hosted a giving tree to benefit the Wenatchee Area Humane Society. It also sponsored the Mobius Kids Children's Museum's Annual Santa Breakfast, at which Numerica's Planet M Kid's Club Mascot, Byte, entertained the kids, volunteer employees helped kids make Christmas tree crafts and each attendee received a Numerica gift.

Rivermark Community Credit Union, Beaverton, Ore., and the Safeway Clackamas Bread Plant raised over $49,000 selling cookie dough this holiday season in their 27th annual Dough for Doernbecher fundraiser, which benefited the local children's hospital. All of the supplies and labor were donated, allowing 100% of the proceeds to go directly to Doernbecher Children's Hospital.

Tinker Federal Credit Union, Oklahoma City, raised $2,300 for the Oklahoma Credit Union Foundation in late 2010 by hosting a Festival of Trees-an online auction of trees and wreaths decorated by its employees. TFCU branches and support departments decorated 37 trees and wreaths with specific themes, added additional donated gifts to enhance the packages and posted them on its website for bidding.

Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union, Alpena, Mich., raised $1757 at its Oscoda branch for the Toys for Tots program. The program, run by the U.S. Marine Corps, collects Christmas toys for local needy children. Credit Union staff worked together to make a handmade quilt to raise the money. They also held a bake sale and sold candy bars, Toys for Tots cards that formed a train around the branch lobby, and “Santa Bucks”-special dollar bills with Santa's picture on them.

American 1 Federal Credit Union, Jackson, Mich., held its 2010 Winter Wonderland event last month. The attraction raised nearly $8,000 for local charities, and featured a tree decorating contest. Each participant in the contest decorated a tree and listed a “charity of choice” on their registration form. Donations raised by guests' monetary votes and silent auction bids were donated to that tree's charity. The tree with the most donations and highest auction bid combined at the end of the event won an additional $500 for their tree's charity. Local organizations and businesses decorated 54 live, potted white pine trees for the contest.

Community Resource Federal Credit Union, Albany, N.Y., provided volunteers during the busy holiday season to serve a meal for clients of Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless's Sheridan Hollow Drop-In Center. David Heffley, owner of the Four Corners Luncheonette in Delmar, catered the holiday dinner, which has been organized by Grassroots Givers for the past four years. Over 100 people were served at the event, which included a full meal and dessert with flip-flops and umbrellas as take-home gifts.

Diamond Credit Union, Pottstown, Pa., supported the Salvation Army for the sixth consecutive year by hosting an Angel Tree in the lobby of its Pottstown branch. This year, members and employees donated over 60 gifts to help children in the Greater Pottstown area.

Enrichment Federal Credit Union, Oak Ridge, Tenn., collected gloves, hats and scarves at its Roane County branch for local schoolchildren. The credit union's second annual holiday “Gloves of Love” drive took place between Nov. 15 and Dec. 9. On Dec. 14, the credit union presented the items to the principals of the eight different schools in Roane County, so that they could give them out before the children left for the holidays.

Fort Campbell Federal Credit Union, Fort Campbell, Ky., hosted its fourth annual Operation Best Wishes service for members of the military and their families. Operation Best Wishes is a mobile webcast studio where each soldier or family member is given up to 10 minutes to record an electronic holiday card for their loved ones. The recipient can then access the electronic greeting from a secure website and view it as many times as they want.

Georgia Federal Credit Union, Duluth, Ga., held its annual Wish Tree program. The credit union partnered with other organizations, such as local schools, to benefit foster children during the holiday season. Over 600 gifts were donated, from bicycles and iPods to educational toys and baby dolls. In addition, monetary donations were given to purchase more gifts for deserving foster kids in the local community. The gifts were delivered to the children the week of Christmas.

North Central Area Credit Union, Houghton Lake, donated $600 to the Resurrection Church Food Pantry last month. During the drive, $465 was raised by the credit union's Standish branch. This is the third year that NCACU has made a large contribution to local food drives during the Christmas season in Arenac County. Donations were also made from other branch locations in Crawford and Roscommon Counties. A total of 18,000 food items were donated.

St. Helens Community Federal Credit Union, St. Helens, Ore., collected $823 and 1,143 pounds of food in a holiday food and fundraising campaign for the Columbia Pacific Food Bank. The drive took place in Scappoose, St. Helens and Rainier from November to Dec. 15, and was held to help feed residents in need throughout Columbia County.

Woodstone Credit Union, Federal Way, Wash., recently wrapped up its annual Holiday House toy drive. In all, Woodstone collected 954 presents and decorations for the Holiday House, a local nonprofit organization that lets needy families “shop” for Christmas presents from its inventory of donated items. The toy drive took place between Nov. 29 and Dec. 17 at Woodstone's branch in downtown Federal Way.

America First Credit Union, La Habra, Calif., recently organized its seventh annual Angel Tree gift campaign to solicit gift donations for the children and teens of the Crittenton Services for Family and Children in Fullerton, Calif. The Angel Tree, filled with gift tags and wish lists, was displayed in the credit union's La Habra corporate office and employees voluntarily selected a gift tag to donate gifts for the abused and neglected children ranging from newborns to 17-year-olds. Approximately 75 employees donated more than 100 gifts for the abused and neglected children, including pajamas, shoes, gift cards and toys.

Belco Community Credit Union, Harrisburg, Pa., visited the Harrisburg Hospital to deliver over 100 teddy bears that were donated by fans at the annual Teddy Bear Toss at the Hershey Bears game on Dec. 4. The hospital delivery was just one of many within the past two weeks, as Belco employees helped to distribute the bears in time for the holidays. More than 7,000 teddy bears and stuffed animals were collected at the event. Belco sponsored the night and employees helped to gather bears off the ice. After the game, Belco was given a large sum of bears to distribute to local charities.

Keys Federal Credit Union, Key West, Fla., delivered doughnuts and pizza to three organizations that help keep the Florida Keys safe all year. The Key West Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff's Office and Monroe County Fire Rescue offices from Key West to Marathon all received food from Keys Federal Credit Union last month as a holiday treat.

LBS Financial Credit Union, Long Beach, Calif., donated hundreds of toys and books to the children of Long Beach Day Nursery on Dec. 15 at The Grand in Long Beach during their annual holiday breakfast. The credit union selected Long Beach Day Nursery for this year's employee gift donation hoping to make a positive difference in the lives of the children during the holidays. LBS Financial has more than 230 employees, and almost everyone in attendance brought one or more gifts for the children of the two Long Beach Day Nursery locations.

Members Advantage Credit Union, Michigan City, Ind., recently made a donation of $2,500 to the Michigan City Salvation Army to assist in their holiday fundraising campaign. The funds will be used primarily for food pantry assistance and Christmas baskets, said Major Brian Burkett, Corps Officer for the organization. Last year the Michigan City Salvation Army achieved its Christmas goal of $145,000.

Mid-Cities Financial Credit Union, Compton, Calif., donated gifts to Peace4Kids, a local foster children organization. The credit union sponsored gifts for Peace4Kids foster children eight to twelve years of age. Members, employees and volunteers selected gift wishes from the lobby wish tree to purchase for the children. After delivering approximately 50 gifts, the credit union participated in a special event where the kids received and opened their presents.

NEFCU, Westbury, N.Y., donated nearly 20 bags of wrapped toys that were distributed to over 100 children at the Center for Developmental Disabilities during its annual holiday party. With the help of parents and teachers, the children created wish lists prior to the toy drive, and NEFCU staff members did their best to make these holiday dreams come true by purchasing books, puzzles, board games, clothes, sensory toys and more.

People's Credit Union, Middletown, R.I., delivered gift cards to the Women's Resource Center of Newport and Bristol counties and the Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County. Each center received $300 in gift cards to distribute to people in need. This is the fourth year the credit union has donated gift cards to the centers during the holidays. The cards are distributed to the people at each center to help them buy gifts for family members and make the holiday season more enjoyable.

Robins Federal Credit Union, Warner Robins, Ga., completed a holiday season of various charitable activities. Credit union staff sent 95 care packages to men and women serving abroad, and filled shoeboxes with toiletry items and winter clothing for the elderly in partnership with Meals on Wheels of Houston County. They also gathered items and monetary donations for the Ronald McDonald House in Macon. Many Robins FCU branches collected toys for Toys for Tots and for Rainbow House Children's Resource Center, which supports abused children. Finally, the credit union also donated to local charities, including the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, Kids Yule Love and many local Departments of Family and Children's Services.