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Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union employees joined forces with credit union members to adopt nearly 200 Angels for The Salvation Army’s Chattanooga Area Command’s Angel Tree Program.

 

“Every year, TVFCU is a crucial contributor to the Angel Tree Program,” said Major Mark Smith of The Salvation Army’s Chattanooga Area Command. “This year, TVFCU employees and members worked together to provide Christmas gifts and necessities for nearly 200 Angels. I am consistently inspired by the generosity of our community, and I’m thankful for this group’s commitment to helping those in need.”

 

Since 2006, TVFCU employees have coordinated an employee food auction the day before Thanksgiving to raise funds for The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program. The auction includes homemade items and food-related gift cards in an effort to help credit union employees spend less time in the kitchen on Thanksgiving Day. Items ranged from savory casseroles to tasty desserts. The highest item sold was an Oreo cake for $285. Through employee generosity, TVFCU’s food auction raised $8,291. The funds enabled TVFCU to share holiday cheer with 45 Angels.

 

In addition to TVFCU’s food auction, Christmas trees at TVFCU’s nine branches in Hamilton County featured the Angel Tree tags. Credit union members and employees adopted the Angels. One of TVFCU’s smallest branches, the City Center Branch, provided gifts for more than 20 Angels.

 

“I think with the pandemic, our employees and members actually felt closer to one another in their efforts to help families who are truly hurting financially,” said Jed Mescon, TVFCU community engagement liaison and organizer of TVFCU’s participation in the Angel Tree Program “This was going to be the year to enjoy the spirit of the holidays and make up for lost time. That was truly the motto among everyone who gave through TVFCU. It worked. The famous Mr. Rogers once said, ‘If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of.’ Was he ever right.”

 

Although this year’s Angel Tree Program has reached completion, it is never too late to help. Visit csarmy.org to donate to the Online Red Kettle campaign and to learn about volunteer opportunities.

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Angel Tree donations flank a Christmas tree at a TVFCU branch.

 

The Salvation Army annually helps more than 23 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 7,600 centers of operations around the country. In the first-ever listing of “America’s Favorite Charities” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Salvation Army ranked as the country’s largest privately funded, direct-service nonprofit. For more information, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org.

 

Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union (TVFCU), a not-for-profit financial cooperative, was established in 1936 when 57 Chattanooga TVA employees pooled $500 to create the member-owned credit union. Today, TVFCU serves more than 164,000 members who live, work, worship, volunteer or attend school throughout the 13-county service community. With more than $2.2 billion in assets and 21 branches throughout the area, TVFCU is the largest credit union in Southeast Tennessee. In 2021, Forbes named TVFCU Best-In-State Credit Union. For more information about TVFCU, please visit tvfcu.com.