By Kim Hutchison
Staff Reporter:
Oct. 16 was Credit Union Day and Community Savings celebrated in a big way.
The branch hosted a member appreciation barbecue with branch manager Dennis Jones manning the grill from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. While eating was free, cash donations were accepted with all proceeds raised going to the Ponoka Outreach’s lunch program. $250 was raised in total and Community Savings matched these donations dollar for dollar for a total of $500.
“We’re thankful for the support from the Credit Union as well as the community,” said Val Jones of Ponoka Outreach School. “We will be able to continue our lunch program and provide students with nutritious snacks and meals.”
From Oct. 6 to 16 members were also encouraged to bring in non-perishable food items to support a campaign called “Spread the Love” created by 21 year-old Calgary University student Rob Aronson in 2002. Aronson, along with a group of volunteers, went around his community making sandwiches for the hungry. He knew he couldn’t wipe out hunger but felt it was important to make the effort to alleviate it locally while creating social awareness. Alberta Credit Union took the campaign province-wide with the future goal of expanding the program coast to coast.
During the duration of the barbecue, a table was set up inside the branch to collect any last minute donations for this cause. $160 along with 80 pounds of food was raised in total and is going directly to the Ponoka Food Bank.
“It was a great day that was a lot of fun and was very well received overall,” said Dennis.
For more information on this event and branch, visit www.communitysavings.ca