Making a Meaningful Difference — Assisting With Back to School Supplies

With the school year approaching, St. Cloud Financial Credit Union member Capria came into her local credit union looking for assistance. Except this time, it wasn’t a normal request or transaction.

Capria wasn’t looking to open a Diamond Checking account, she wasn’t looking to open a Certificate of Deposit (CD), she wasn’t trying to make a deposit. In this instance, she was instead looking for help in making sure her five children were prepared and ready for the upcoming school year.

“I needed school supplies, like backpacks, for my five children,” Capria said. “I was there for something else, but I asked about it for my kids. I didn’t think I’d get any help because that’s never happened to me before.”

The person on the other end of that conversation was Steven Martinez, a Member Advisor II at SCFCU. Steven, like other SCFCU employees, regularly looks for ways to make an impact with members and the surrounding communities in ways beyond their financial needs through SCFCU’s Meaningful Difference program.

Steven realized Capria was in need and, as a parent himself, understood how much goes into children returning to school, especially financially. Steven also knew the financial curveballs Capria had been thrown over the previous few months. That resulted in him teaming up with others at SCFCU to make a meaningful difference to surprise Capria and her children with backpacks filled with school supplies.

“I remember her face lighting up and how excited her kids were. They were so thankful, and it felt like we helped her at least with the school supplies part while taking a load off of her shoulders as she was dealing with other things,” Steven said. “That is what our meaningful difference program means to me. It gives us the ability to be the light in a time of darkness for our members.”

“I love being able to work for a credit union that empowers us to do these things because I can guarantee a credit union is probably the last place people expect to receive that kind of treatment,” Steven continued.

After hearing SCFCU was going to help, Capria and her five children returned to their local SCFCU branch to find five backpacks filled with school supplies — from writing utensils to headphones and more.

“I was very surprised that I got help with not only getting the backpacks, but also getting school supplies inside of it,” Capria said. “My kids were really excited to get all of that. They were going through all the supplies and telling me all that they got. They even wanted to take a picture to say thanks. That made me even happier because they were happy.”

Not only with this instance, but Capria, a proud member of SCFCU for nearly five years, knows she can count on her local credit union whenever she needs them — financially and beyond.

“SCFCU helped me when I first joined. Having a credit union like SCFCU made a big difference for me,” she said. “Being part of a credit union is great, and I know St. Cloud Financial Credit Union is a great place to bank. They make sure your needs are met, and if you have any questions, they’re always there to help.

“I would definitely recommend other people become members. I appreciate (SCFCU) for helping my children out and myself. I hope that someone else is able to feel grateful the same way I do and my children do as well.”

View more examples of SCFCU making a Meaningful Difference in the lives of our members and communities.