Thanksgiving is around the corner, and what better way toshowcase the credit union difference than by shining a light on howthe industry helps out local families and charities.

Fort Knox Federal Credit Unionstaffers and members will be watching the Macy's ThanksgivingParade in New York City to see Kentucky's North Hardin High SchoolBand makes its debut. The credit union was among the first tosupport NHHS band's fundraising efforts with a contribution of$10,000 to defray the band's travel expenses to New York.

“It's one of the great honors for a high school band to beselected to march in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New YorkCity and we're on our way!” said Brian Froedge, North Hardin HighSchool band director. In a show of thanks the band performed aspecial concert at the high school for its hometown fans andsupporters.

“When we first heard that North Hardin High's band had beeninvited to march in the Macy's Parade, we immediately wanted tohelp these deserving students realize their once in a lifetimeopportunity. Along with being the keystone corporatecontributor, we have worked alongside school officials and bandboosters to raise the money for this trip,” Ray Springsteen,president/CEO of Fort Knox FCU said.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been the most popularholiday parade in America since its founding in 1924. Annually attracting more than 3.5 million people along itsparade route through the streets of New York City and more than 50million television viewers nationwide, the Macy's Parade has becomeas synonymous with the Thanksgiving holiday tradition as the familyturkey dinner.

The Macy's Day Parade is a huge collection of performers,floats, and of course, the famous big balloons that are thesignature of this event. Each year ten of America's bestbands from all across the country are selected to bring their ownunique styles and brand of music to share with spectators along theparade route.

The NCUA annual Feds Feed Families food drive resulted in morethan 128,00 meals for families in need.

Agency employees donated 153,752 pounds of food during the 2015drive, a 65% increase from the previous year. A major contributorto the success of this year's food drive was a gleaning operationled by Terri Finley-Harrigan of the Office of Public andCongressional Affairs and Angela Sanders, of the board chairman'soffice, that yielded 103,300 pounds of food. Finley-Harrigan andSanders collected food from warehouses and directly from farms.

“These tremendous results happen because of the dedication,teamwork, creativity and enthusiasm of (the) NCUA staff.” NCUABoard Chairman Debbie Matz said. “It's wonderful that (the) NCUA'scontribution grew so strongly, but the important point is thatthousands of people will have meals they might well have missed.Every contribution, no matter the size, makes life a little easierfor people in need.”

Donations from the agency's Central Office employees went to theCapital Area Food Bank. Through direct delivery and partnershipwith nearly 470 community organizations, the food bank serves morethan 540,000 people annually. Donations included fresh food,whole-grain foods, canned fruits and vegetables, soups and stews,baking goods and baby food. Food banks around the country benefitedfrom contributions by the agency's regional offices.

This holiday season, ServiceCredit Union, based in Portsmouth, N.H., recently gave militaryfamilies assistance.

The credit union donated Visa gift cards to Chaplain StevenVeinotte of the Chaplain Emergency Relief Fund.

The Chaplain Emergency Relief Fund provides timely and temporaryfinancial assistance to military families in their time of need.The fund was established in 1990 and since that time, the fund hashelped families in New Hampshire cover rent, mortgages, and medicaland utilities expenses. Any person who is serving in a militaryunit stationed in New Hampshire or with anyone with a home ofrecord in New Hampshire is eligible for the fund.

“We are proud to be able to help our military and their familieswho give selflessly to help make our nation great,” Gordon Simmons,president/CEO of Service CU, said. “It seems especially fitting tosupport CERF since they strive to assist military members in timesof great need.”

Robins Federal Credit Unionrecently made a deposit to the Middle Georgia Community FoodBank.

The credit union matched its $1,000 food donation with a $1,000monetary donation.

Robins Federal delivered 50 hams to the Middle Georgia CommunityFood Bank. The Middle Georgia Community Food Bank estimates thatfor every $1 donated, it can provide eight meals. With thisestimate, Robins Federal's donation will provide 17,000 meals topeople in the 24 counties that The Middle Georgia Community FoodBank serves.

“We are proud to support an organization like The Middle GeorgiaCommunity Food Bank. We understand that these are difficult timesfor some and we are happy to be able to give back for those in needin our community,” Dee Dee Côté, senior vice president ofadministration said.

For the third year in a row,Connex Credit Union pitched in for the iHeartMedia 25th annualStuff-A-Bus Thanksgiving campaign with a contribution of 12 wholeturkeys.

Disc jockeys from area radio stations helped collect food andmoney for the Connecticut Food Bank and less fortunate familiesduring the holiday season.

“It brings us great joy knowing that our donation will help feednumerous families this Thanksgiving,” Louise Nestor, director ofmarketing for Connex CU, said. “I am proud to work for a creditunion that is committed to bringing joy to others, and is anembodiment of the true spirit of the holiday season.”

The Stuff-A-Bus donation is just one of many communityinitiatives served as part of its ConnexCares philanthropicprogram.

Plans are underway to collect food at its North Haven Branch forthe North Haven food pantry, as well as collecting common householditems that can be used in assisting those looking to transitionfrom shelter living at the Columbus House and into a home of theirown.

For the past 12 years SecurityService Federal Credit Union has been the lead sponsor for theannual Food4SA Food Drive benefitting the San Antonio FoodBank.

Thanks to thousands of generous families across San Antonio, atotal of 1,604,448 pounds of food was collected, enough tomake nearly one million meals.

“It was a record year for the food drive thanks to our membersand the San Antonio area community,” said Brandy Ralston-Lint, vicepresident of public relations for Security Service. “Theirgenerosity is so much more than just a donation of food – it's amessage of caring and hope for those in need.”

Food4SA is sponsored by Security Service, H-E-B, Magic 105.3,News 4 San Antonio and the San Antonio Express-News.

Security Service also participated in the Food Bank's annualturkey roundup, collecting 203 frozen turkeys to give to familiesfor Thanksgiving.

NuVision Federal Credit Unionhas donated Thanksgiving dinners to needy families across LosAngeles and Orange Counties.

For each family, NuVision donated a tote bag filled withgroceries and a $75 Ralphs Gift Card.

The credit union worked with over 20 local schools throughoutSouthern California to identify families in need, and made thespecial Thanksgiving deliveries at each of the schools this week inthe cities of Carson, Huntington Beach, Inglewood, Lakewood, LongBeach, Monterey Park, Rosemead and Westminster.

“NuVision was already working with these local schools as partof our school branch program designed to help educate young peopleabout banking and the importance of saving,” Attila Morgan,manager of community involvement/business development at NuVision.“It just made sense to extend our holiday giving to these familiesright here in our own community.”

Kellogg Community FederalCredit Union staffers donated over 1,000 pounds of food to helpprovide a Thanksgiving meal to those in need.

The food will be distributed throughout the counties that KCFCUserves.

During its annual Team Enrichment Day employees were asked tobring in food donations for Thanksgiving meals. The food collectedwas divided into 11 Thanksgiving baskets. KCFCU partnered with thefollowing organizations: Santa's Helpers of Battle Creek; theDepartment of Human Services in both Kalamazoo and St. Josephcounties; and the Marshall Area Community Services, to determinewhich families would receive the baskets.

“Our all-staff Team Enrichment Day has been dedicated as a foodcollection day for ten years now,” Tracy Miller, CEO, KCFCU said.“This is the second year we decided to create Thanksgiving basketswith the food that was collected. We feel strongly about helpingthe members of our communities in need, and this is one way we canhelp them enjoy their Thanksgiving holiday.”

Advia Credit Union has kickedoff the season of giving by treating some 75 patrons of WaterStreet Coffee Joint to a free cup of coffee and a breakfastpastry.

Advia staffers spread some local holiday cheer by picking up thetab.

Committed to reinvesting in the communities it serves, theSeason of Giving includes partnering with the Savation Army toprovide Angel Trees at all 24 of it brach locations in Michigan,Wisconsin and Illinois. The Angel tree will be decorated withnumbered paper angle tags with the first name, age and gender of achild in need of presents. Once the gifts are collectedstaffers will deliver the unwrapped gifts to the Salvation Army.Staffers will also volunteer some 300 hours at the Salvation ArmyToy Towns sorting toys and helping parents with gift selection fortheir children in December.

“For area families who have fallen on hard times and arestruggling to meet the financial demands of day-to-day life,providing gifts for their children on Christmas Day can be beyondtheir reach,” Ray Black, executive vice president of sales andmarketing said. “This is part of our ongoing commitment to supportour local communities and give back this holiday season.”

Belvoir Federal Credit Unionemployees and members joined forces to help take a bite out ofhunger in the Northern Virginia area.

A total of 731.35 pounds was donated to Action In CommunityThrough Service.

ACTS provides relief, fosters hope, and promotesself-sufficiency for the Prince William area neighbors in crisisdue to hunger, homelessness, and personal violence.