CU News & Events – December Edition

January 2, 2025 |

This December, Maine’s credit unions displayed the festive spirit in all they did. From holiday sweater contests to fundraisers and community fun, credit unions worked hard to brighten the season for those around them. Below, our League shares a snapshot of what some of our credit unions were up to through the final month of 2024: 

  • On December 20, Acadia FCU celebrated the holidays in style, donating $5 to the Campaign for Ending Hunger for each employee who showed up in an “ugly” Christmas sweater for the workday. Additionally, if an employee donated $5 of their own money to the Campaign, the credit union matched the donation.  
  • Atlantic FCU announced the winner of the Amable & Caron scholarship. Congrats to Danielle Stuart for winning the prestigious $2,500 award!
  • Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine, Inc. was presented with a cash donation as well as presents for 12 children and 13 stockings full of goodies by Bangor FCU in hopes of providing Christmas to more children across Maine. 
  • Brewer FCU encouraged members to invest in their A Smile of a Child Christmas Program and choose a gift tag to fulfill before the December 12 deadline. 
  • To benefit Special Olympics Maine, Capital Area FCU hosted cornhole in their lobby. Participants could play for a chance to win all of the gift cards decorating the Christmas tree in the branch. 
  • Casco FCU adopted a local family to provide gifts for the holidays, brightening the season by spreading love and kindness. They thanked everyone who provided a donation and made it possible to support the family.
  • Coast Line CU alerted members furthering their education that information about the four $2,500 scholarships they distribute annually, as well as the application, can be found on their website. 
  • Employees from Community CU joined the community for the Auburn Holiday Parade on December 8. 
  • Connected CU helped stuff stockings full of items donated by the community for veterans at the American Legion Post #126. 
  • cPort CU assisted in teaching students of Windham High School all about financial literacy at the Financial Fitness Fair held on December 17. 
  • For Giving Tuesday on December 3, Cumberland County FCU raised awareness around the Campaign for Ending Hunger and asked those who could do so to donate and join the effort to feed hungry Mainers. 
  • On December 8, Dirigo FCU was the community sponsor for a fun-filled festive, “Christmas in Auburn” day, featuring the shopping village, parade, and tree lighting ceremony.
  • On December 19, Downeast CU presented a $3,000 donation to Box of Maine, making it possible for 60 active-duty Mainers to receive a package of Maine treats right on their doorstep to bring a touch of home during the holiday season. 
  • Letters to Santa could be dropped off in Eastmill FCU’s mailbox to the North Pole! 
  • Staff from Empeople CU extended their gratitude to members on December 26 in honor of National Thank You Note Day, sharing their appreciation for their membership. 
  • Evergreen CU showed their love for their community partner, Portland Trails, by participating in their Holiday 5K on the Eastern Promenade, thrilled to help raise money for an organization they support all year long. 
  • With the holidays now over, Five County CU shared helpful tips with members on how to recover from the holidays, including reviewing holiday spending, adjusting your budget, meeting with a financial counselor, and opening a Christmas Club account to start saving for next year. 
  • Franklin-Somerset FCU has again had a successful year thanks to their members. To express their “thanks,” the credit union made a $25 deposit into every active share account as a way to express their appreciation.
  • As a way to fundraise for the Campaign for Ending Hunger, Gardiner FCU hosted a quilt raffle alongside the winter supply drive they held for area shelters. 
  • With scammers becoming more deceptive, especially as AI use increases, Great Falls FCU warned members of what to keep an eye out for and how to stay safe. 
  • For their 12 Days of Caring, HRCU featured over 30 various crucial nonprofits in their neighborhoods. This year, they were thrilled to donate $40,000 across 37 local charities. 
  • To help keep their members protected from fraud, Katahdin FCU issued a warning on its website about text messaging scams.
  • In their lobby, KSW FCU provided members the chance to give back by supporting local families in need through their giving tree. 
  • KV FCU sponsored a Snoopy and Charlie Brown Tree valued over $1,000 at the Augusta Elks Lodge’s Festival of Trees. 
  • With the support of their generous members, Lighthouse CU donated 1,190 pounds of food to Gather in continued support of those facing hunger in the community. 
  • Lincoln Maine FCU shared news of their cherished Executive Vice President Cris Kinney’s retirement after a dedicated 36 years to the credit union and her community. Thank you for your many years of service, Cris, and enjoy a happy, well-deserved retirement! 
  • Lisbon Community FCU announced Hanna Stevens, School Counselor at Lisbon Community School, as the inaugural recipient of the George Roy Community Fund. With the $5,000 grant, she plans to start a student garden to help students learn the importance of sustainability, responsibility, and community service. 
  • In their lobbies, Maine Family FCU hosted a 50/50 raffle for the Campaign for Ending Hunger. By the end of the month, $3,911 was raised for the Campaign and the winner took home nearly $2,000! 
  • In their winter newsletter, Maine Highlands FCU noted that the Dover-Foxcroft branch opened their lobby on December 7 to join the annual Hometown Holidays celebration with a hot cocoa and maple apple cider bar, snacks, and other goodies. 
  • Maine Savings FCU provided an $8,000 donation to the Salvation Army to support the Coats for Kids program. 
  • On December 17, Maine State CU delivered bags full of highly requested donation items to Homeworthy, supplying urgently needed things like sleeping pads and sleeping bags. They also dropped off hygiene items to The Landing Place for their Youth Free Store. 
  • December was all about youth members at Midcoast FCU! The credit union celebrated “Decem-BEAR,” an initiative where all who opened or made a deposit into a youth savings account were entered to win a giant four-foot teddy bear. Five winners were drawn, one at each location, on December 23. 
  • Team Teal at New Dimensions FCU dug into the seasonal spirit with their Christmas Spirit Week, with days themed around crazy socks, dressing your best, games, and an Elf on a Shelf photo contest. 
  • NorState FCU encouraged their community to get involved with all the festive celebrations that occurred throughout the month—including the Festival of Trees, which was sponsored by the credit union—to take part in the holiday magic that brings everyone together. 
  • OTIS FCU hosted financial literacy presentations for the 8th grade students at Spruce Mountain Middle School, bringing them through a valuable lesson in budgeting. 
  • To recognize 12 Days of Giving, Oxford FCU distributed $12,000 in donations to 12 different charities in their community, providing $1,000 to each. 
  • Penobscot County FCU benefitted from community member Jenny, who brought snacks to the crew, again this year. Jenny selects a business to treat each holiday season and was once again impressed with the Bangor branch’s festive decorations and spirit. 
  • Biddeford High School’s boys’ basketball program thanked returning All-Conference Sponsor PeoplesChoice CU for supporting their athletes through another season. 
  • Sabattus Regional CU had a busy and successful December! On December 20, they celebrated the season with Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, picked their Christmas Raffle winners, and thanked their 72 prize donors and all who purchased tickets to support the effort. In total, their Raffle raised $2,433 for the Campaign for Ending Hunger. 
  • Employees of Saco Valley CU got into the holiday spirit with themed sweaters ahead of Christmas Day. 
  • Sock in a Box 2024 was a great success at Seaboard FCU! The credit union’s donation of brand-new sock donations will help support local homeless shelters. 
  • Sebasticook Valley FCU once again served as the corporate sponsor of the Sebasticook Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Valley of Trees Festival. 
  • The County FCU came together for festive fun throughout the month, including a gingerbread house decorating competition at their big holiday party and branch decorating contests. 
  • Between December 5 and December 20, Town & Country FCU held its second annual 12 Days of Local Giving initiative, contributing a total of $11,000 shared among 12 local non-profit organizations serving the people of Cumberland and York Counties. The credit union staff also spent time volunteering with several organizations during the season. 
  • Trademark FCU spread holiday cheer by visiting both the Gardiner Rotary Club’s and the Rotary Club of South Portland-Cape Elizabeth’s Christmas tree sales to purchase trees for multiple families. 
  • TruChoice FCU extended kindness and generosity during their Season of Giving. Using funds donated by employees throughout the year, the credit union chose a few local charities to receive the proceeds they collected, including Through These Doors and the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland. 
  • As a result of a food drive they held during a University of Maine (UMaine) hockey game against Boston University where they encouraged fans to donate nonperishable items, UCU delivered many bags and boxes full of food to the Black Bear Exchange—the on-campus food pantry and clothing exchange—at UMaine. 
  • Winthrop Area FCU participated in their local holiday parade, fully dressed in character costumes that brought joy to their community.