Giving Back This Holiday Season: How Virginia’s Credit Unions Are Supporting Their Communities

The holiday season is a time for giving, and Virginia’s credit unions are stepping up to make a difference in their communities. Rooted in the philosophy of “people helping people,” our member credit unions are spreading holiday cheer, providing for those in need, and strengthening the communities they serve. Here’s a look at some of the incredible initiatives happening across the Commonwealth:

• 1st Advantage Federal Credit Union: Supported E1-E6 military families through their Giving Tree initiative, with donation sites across seven branches.
• ABNB Federal Credit Union: Partnered with the Salvation Army for a toy drive, collecting new, unwrapped toys to brighten the holidays for children in need.
• Apple Federal Credit Union: Donated $1 to Good360 for every qualifying Bill Pay transaction (up to $50,000) and provided 47 gifts to children through their bLIZzard of Giving program.
• Argent Credit Union: Sponsored Fox Holiday Socks, with employees preparing 7,000 stockings for children in Richmond.
• Beach Municipal Federal Credit Union: Partnered with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, collecting food donations to combat hunger.
• Beacon Credit Union: Sponsored the Peaks of Otter Christmas Classic 5K, benefitting the Bedford YMCA, and hosted photo opportunities and prizes at their event tent.
• Bronco Federal Credit Union: Supported the Angel Tree program and participated in the Franklin-Southampton Area United Way Gingerbread House Challenge, where donations of $1 per vote went to fund United Way programs.
• Call Federal Credit Union: Donated toys to over 100 families through the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother Program, sponsored two Bensley Elementary students, and provided groceries for six families.
• Chartway Federal Credit Union: Hosted a toy drive for Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters (CHKD), collecting hundreds of donations for hospitalized children.
• CommonWealth One Federal Credit Union: Partnered with Volunteer Alexandria to collect toys, books, and games for the Toys4ALX drive, supporting families with children up to 10 years old.
• Connects Federal Credit Union: Partnered with Toys for Tots to collect donations, helping to deliver Christmas gifts to children in need.
• DuPont Community Credit Union: Adopted 50 children through the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program, volunteered as bell ringers, and wrapped gifts for the “Be a Santa to a Senior” program.
• Henrico Federal Credit Union: Collected donations for the Henrico Christmas Mother program, assisting local families in need.
• Homebase Credit Union: Adopted two additional children through the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother Program thanks to staff donations. 
• Jackson River Community Credit Union: Hosted Santa and their local Christmas Mother at their branch, collecting toys and household items for local families.
• Justice Federal Credit Union: Supported Santa’s Ride, a toy delivery event for hospitalized children, by contributing a sleigh full of new toys and gifts.
• KEMBA Roanoke Federal Credit Union: Donated $1,300 to the Community Christmas Store of the Roanoke Valley to support families in need.
• Navy Federal Credit Union: Navy Federal donated $1,000 each to 11 nonprofits around Winchester, including Access 304, Shady’s Paw Animal Rescue, and United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley, through its Dollars for Doers program.
• Park View Federal Credit Union: Assisted students at Spotswood Elementary’s Winter Knight Bucks Store and volunteered as Salvation Army bell ringers.
• PenFed Credit Union: Sponsored the Middleburg Christmas Parade and raised funds for Homeward Trails Animal Rescue, supporting military families and veterans.
• People’s Advantage Federal Credit Union: Partnered with Lending Helping Hands for a toy and coat drive, aiming to provide over 550 children with gifts.
• Spectra Credit Union: Hosted food and toy drives for the Capital Area Food Bank and Charles County Children’s Aid Society, accepting in-person and Amazon Wishlist donations.
• Topside Federal Credit Union: Offered free Santa visits at branches and collected Toys for Tots donations to bring joy to children.
• Transportation Federal Credit Union: Volunteered with the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program to provide gifts to children.
• UVA Community Credit Union: Helped spread holiday cheer by volunteering as Salvation Army bell ringers in Culpeper.
• Virginia State University Federal Credit Union: Hosted a food drive benefiting the Chesterfield Food Bank, with a goal of collecting 150,000 pounds of food.

From hosting toy drives and adopting families to supporting local nonprofits, we’re so impressed by our incredible member credit unions and the outpouring of community support they’ve shown this holiday season! Their efforts are a testament to the credit union difference and the power of people coming together to be the change they want to see in the world.