HOLLYWOOD, Fla.—A pair credit unions has engaged in separate giveaways of two things that are increasingly squeezing consumers’ budgets: gas and groceries.
In Florida, SUN Credit Union this week hosted a “SUN Fuels the Community” event in which it is providing free gas to 50 local drivers. The event took place at a Marathon gas station in Hollywood, where SUN Credit Union staff filled tanks for the first 50 vehicles in line, offering up to $50 in free gas per vehicle. Community members began arriving well before sunrise, with the first driver entering the line around 5:30 a.m. for the 7:30 a.m. event start, according to the credit union.
The initiative received strong community support and media attention, including onsite coverage from CBS Miami, which can be viewed here.
“We wanted to create a meaningful moment of relief for our community,” Director of Marketing and Business Development Lorena Cooke said in a statement. “At SUN Credit Union, people come first, and this event was a reminder that even small acts of support can make a real difference for families navigating today’s financial challenges.”
Groceries Giveaway in Alabama
Separately, in Huntsville, Ala., more than 150 families in Huntsville received an unexpected surprise at the checkout line this week when Redstone Federal Credit Union.
The giveaway was part of Redstone’s “Acts of Brightness” campaign, a community outreach effort tied to the credit union’s 75th anniversary celebration. Employees wearing the group’s signature powder-blue shirts covered grocery bills for shoppers throughout the day, according to RocketCityNow.
For Alabama A&M University graduate student Gabriel Barker, the experience caught him completely off guard.
“We came in to buy one thing and left with a hundred, maybe more. We walked up, and a guy said, ‘It’s your lucky day. We’re buying your groceries today,’” Barker told RocketCityNow. “I didn’t think it was real. God is good. I grabbed enough stuff to cook and share with the homeless. As nice as it is to receive a blessing, it’s good to give one back.”
Employees Spread Out Across 2 States
Redstone FCU said its employees have traveled across North Alabama and Middle Tennessee helping residents with groceries, gas, utility bills and back-to-school shopping. Stops have included Huntsville, Madison, Athens, Cullman, Scottsboro, Smyrna, Tennessee, and Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
According to RFCU, eight events have been held so far, helping more than 540 families and providing more than $100,000 in direct support. Additional events are planned through the end of the year, RocketCItyNow said.
