News
February 7, 2019SEFCU Surprises Shelters with Donations of Blankets, Coats, and More During Recent Code Blue
SEFCU donated $20,000-worth of fleece blankets, winter coats, socks, toiletry kits, sheet sets, and new sleeping cots to 11 shelters within its branch footprint, to accommodate the surplus in shelter guests on the coldest nights.
During the 2018 Holiday Sharing campaign, SEFCU employees and members helped bring joy and cheer to more than 160 families through the Adopt-A-Family initiative. However, the flood of donations exceeded what SEFCU had projected, thus creating the opportunity for additional support of area shelters.
Many of the homeless shelters supported in the Capital Region, Binghamton, Syracuse, and Buffalo, extend their hours of operations and occupancy when the temperature is 32 degrees or lower.
“My hope is that there comes a day when we do not have people living on the streets, but until we do, those organizations providing shelter, especially during the coldest winter nights, are absolutely saving lives. Extreme winter weather can cause hypothermia, serious injury, and death, and SEFCU will be here to support the life-saving efforts of the many shelters in our area. I cannot be more proud to know that our employees and members have fueled this effort through their hard work and financial support,” said SEFCU President & CEO Michael J. Castellana.
The Holiday Sharing program is just one way that SEFCU employees and members can contribute money to help those in need. The credit union established a Giving for Good program to allow people to donate as little as $1 per month to support organizations aiding youth, families, and veterans within the regions in which SEFCU does business.
