AUBURN HILLS, Mich. –As the holiday season highlights the spirit of giving, Genisys Credit Union said its team showcased the heart of the credit union movement–people helping people–by volunteering 2,300 hours at 11 nonprofit organizations in six counties during a collective day of caring.
“The mission for our day of caring was centered around being present in our communities in Michigan and Minnesota; listening, serving, and making a real difference, together,” President and CEO Jackie Buchanan said in a statement. “Even though our team is spread out, our commitment to community keeps us connected. By working alongside our nonprofit partners, we advanced projects that supported families, sustained vital programs, and strengthened the communities we call home. This day served as a powerful reminder that when we unite for a shared purpose, we can create lasting impact.”
Genisys said 580 of its team members came together for four hours to benefit local nonprofit partners – the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, Lighthouse of Michigan, Detroit Dog Rescue, Clarkston Family Farm, Turning Point, Macomb, Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers, the Clinton River Watershed Council, Belleville Township, the City of Roseville, MN, and The Open Door, MN – giving back to those who provide essential services to their communities.
In addition to their volunteer support, the credit union said it invested nearly $140,000 to benefit the respective nonprofit organizations; a combination of financial donations, purchased materials for the needed projects, and the value of more than 2,300 volunteer hours. This investment is a reflection of the credit union philosophy that meaningful support takes many forms – time, donations, and resources.
The Highlights
Highlights of their day of caring include:
- A group of nearly 200 volunteers rehabbing a 25 acre farm into a dog sanctuary by mulching, landscaping paths for scent trails, painting, and more for Detroit Dog Rescue along with creating sensory mats and bandanas for their rescued residents.
- A team of 37 refreshing common spaces at Turning Point to create a healing environment for domestic violence survivors and their families
- 130 volunteers sorting food donations and assembling food boxes at The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan (FBEM), which resulted in over 61,000 pounds of food moved to create nearly 52,000 meals to benefit 42,000 people
- Volunteers putting on waders to clean up the Clinton River at Heritage and Delia Parks in Michigan by removing hundreds of pounds of trash
- Removing invasive species, buckthorn, from a local park in Minnesota; and raking, weeding, and cleaning a 10-acre historic cemetery in Belleville, Mich.
- Partnering with Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers (IVC) in Macomb County to provide support for seven households of aging and disabled homeowners living independently with various home projects
- Assembled snack packs with The Open Door in Minnesota and helped Lighthouse in Pontiac sort food donations for local families in need, assemble hygiene kits and snack packs, and deep clean their family emergency shelter
- Transitioned Clarkston Family Farm, a non-profit educational farm, to be winter ready by clearing beds, mulching trails, planting bulbs, and tackling dream projects
“The basis of community is support. By giving back to their nonprofit partners during a season of generosity, and in the spirit of people helping people, the credit union strengthens the communities they serve and inspires hope for continued impact into the new year,” Genisys said.
