Sterling Heights, MI (December 1, 2025) |
Christian Financial Credit Union proudly hosted its annual Autumn Apple Giveback on October 13, 2025, bringing together employees to support local nonprofits across Metro Detroit. The Giveback continues to grow each year, solidifying its role as the credit union’s largest annual volunteer initiative.
This year, 187 employees volunteered nearly 600 hours to support 10 local nonprofits, including Capuchin Services Center, Face Addiction Now, Fleece & Thank You, Forgotten Harvest, I Heart Dogs, McWarm, Motown Soup, Motor City Mitten Mission, St. Vincent de Paul Clothing Center, and Susie Q’s Kids.
In preparation for the event, employees assembled 80 fleece blankets, collected canned goods and non-perishable food items for distribution to 11 local church food pantries, and prepared more than 400 lunches for families in need. Christian Financial also contributed over $6,000 to support these community programs, further amplifying the impact of the Giveback.
The moniker “Autumn Apple Giveback” was inspired by the credit union’s apple orchard, located at their headquarters at 15 Mile and Van Dyke in Sterling Heights, which is available to employees and community members to pick from each fall. The orchard features 35 red apple trees, and each year, Christian Financial donates freshly picked apples to local nonprofits and food pantries as part of its commitment to giving back. “While we volunteer and donate funds throughout the year, our Autumn Apple Giveback is our largest event, and the culmination of a year of planning,” said Patty Campbell, president and CEO.
“Each year, employees of Christian Financial come together to give up their time to others in our communities,” Campbell added. “It has always been the mission of the credit union to give back to the communities that we’re serving, and it’s innate in who we are as an organization.”
During the day’s activities, volunteers engaged in a variety of activities, including preparing meals, organizing clothing donations, assembling outreach kits, making blankets, prepping soup packets, and assisting in animal care, among other tasks.
Nick Kristock, founder and executive director of Fleece & Thank You, shared his appreciation for the partnership: “It's been awesome to partner with Christian Financial Credit Union over the years. We've now been able to comfort hundreds of kids. For many parents and children, they say, ‘we've been hanging on by a thread,’ and these blankets provided the first glimmer of hope that things might turn out okay. Christian Financial CU and their team have been able to provide that piece of hope.”
Christian Financial Credit Union continues to prioritize community service as part of its commitment to members and neighbors, reinforcing a culture of giving and engagement throughout Metro Detroit. In 2025, employees will contribute nearly 2000 hours, supporting and giving back to local nonprofits across the region. In addition, through the credit union’s Outreach & Impact Foundation, employee dress-down day donations raised $11,500 to further support community organizations throughout the year.
