The Incredible Way Rochester Credit Unions Are Helping Minnesota

Get our free mobile app

Employees from several credit unions in Rochester are joining in and volunteering their time on Monday as a part of CU Forward Day.

October 9th, 2023 might show up on your calendar as Indigenous Peoples Day or Columbus Day. But here in Minnesota, employees of credit unions across the state are marking CU Forward Day, a day dedicated to volunteering their time and lending a hand in communities throughout the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

According to Minnesota Credit Union Network (MCUN), CU Forward Day was started back in 2016 and is held annually on the second Monday in October, a federal holiday when financial institutions are often closed. It's an initiative of credit union employees, members, and partners across Minnesota coming together to volunteer with local organizations, give back to our communities, commit random acts of kindness and generally just say thank you to the people who deserve it most.

In 2022, 3,000 volunteers from 60 credit unions and partners across the Land of 10,000 Lakes dedicated the day to community service projects totaling over 13,000 hours impacting 540,000 people all over the state. Pretty impressive!

For 2023, MCUN said that CU Forward Day in Rochester will include employees from several local credit unions.

First Alliance Credit Union participates as part of its annual All For One Community Service Day. Last year, First Alliance employees donated 95 volunteer hours at three different area nonprofit organizations. This year, FACU is on track to complete 200 volunteer hours supporting 8 organizations.

Altra Federal Credit Union said they're also taking part in Monday's events, as a part of their 6th annual 'Altra Gives Back Day.'

“Volunteering is an essential part of Altra’s commitment to the communities we serve,” said Steve Koenen, President and Chief Executive Officer at Altra. “Employees coming together for a day dedicated to service fosters teamwork and allows our staff to grow personally and professionally.”

The 550+ employees of Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union are also set to take part in the event, which they call 'Plus It Forward.'

WATCH: Rochester Nonprofit Shocked With Huge Pay-It-Forward Surprise From Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union

Employees of Think Bank in Rochester are taking part in this year's event (which they call 'Think Gives Day') with around 250 employees who are set to volunteer at 15 nonprofit organizations in the Rochester area.

Mayo Employees Federal Credit Union is also set to participate again this year. They marked Caring It Forward Day in 2021 with a flu shot clinic and document shred day at its Cascade Lake location on 2nd Street in Rochester.

Well done, credit unions! Way to help out communities across Minnesota, especially since many credit unions often don't have a ton of employees-- unlike the following businesses, which have the most employees in the state. Do you know which ones are the largest? Keep scrolling to find out!

Listen to Curt St. John in the Morning
weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. on Quick Country 96.5