With Christmas right around the corner, the staff at Allegius Credit Union is spreading the holiday spirit early. Members of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation joined the Allegius team in carefully packing and collecting toys for kids throughout the Region. On Thursday, December 19, they worked together to load up the Toys for Tots truck with toys that will be distributed to Porter County families who might not be able to afford them.
John Figueroa, member development and marketing manager at Allegius Credit Union, has been a longtime fan of this Christmas tradition at their office.
“We’ve been doing this event for a number of years,” Figueroa said. “Our staff and members love it. This is a great way for us to give back to those in the community.”
One way that the credit union helps raise money for these toys is through their jeans days. On Fridays and Saturdays, staff members can pay $5 to wear jeans. The money that Allegius Credit Union raises for those days goes to donations and purchasing toys to benefit Toys for Tots.
“We’re all about serving the community and being a credit union that puts the people first,” Figueroa said. “We want people to feel proud that they bank with a credit union that aligns with their values and wants to give back. We even have some great members here that will donate to Toys for Tots out of the kindness of the heart. It’s a special feeling to make that happen, especially during the holiday season.”
On top of collaborating with Toys for Tots in Porter County, Allegius Credit Union has extended their range of distribution this year. Toys will also be delivered in Lake and La Porte County from their other branches.
This annual collaboration with Toys for Tots is one of the most exciting Christmas traditions for Figueroa. He considers it a heartwarming experience for him and the Allegius Credit Union team to pack and load up gifts for kids that might not get the average Christmas experience otherwise.
“Toys for Tots is a great organization when it comes to supporting the families that may have fallen a little short of where they’d hope to be during the holidays,” Figueroa said. “No kid wants to wake up for Christmas without anything for them under the tree. This program lets kids in our community celebrate with positive memories that will last a lifetime.”
Figueroa is grateful for the support of both the community and the team members who spent the day helping the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. The Allegius Credit Union team is hopeful that this will kick start a successful season of holiday celebrations for the families in need.
“We wouldn’t be in this position without our membership,” Figueroa said. “All of our donation bins in the lobby are filled up. People make donations at the teller line or even bring in toys themselves. We have stuff for kids into sports, reading, cars, dolls, and more. The support from the membership, along with our staff, is what helps make this a smooth running machine. It’s all a group effort. We’ve done our best to find the right toy for each kid and hope it makes them realize that the Christmas spirit is alive in this community.”
For more information on Allegius Credit Union, you can visit its website.
