Credit Union Spotlight, presented by CUInsight, features credit unions taking action and changing their local communities. Join us as we recognize and celebrate the important work these credit unions do to bring their mission to life.
What began as a simple idea from one employee has grown into a powerful example of purpose in action. In February 2025, Lighthouse Credit Union opened its new headquarters in Dover, New Hampshire, complete with an on-site garden led by an employee engagement group known as the Giving Gardeners. The initiative reflects a broader organizational commitment to employee-led passion projects, supported by senior leadership, that create meaningful impact.
To lay the groundwork, the Giving Gardeners employee engagement group partnered with Green City Growers, gaining hands-on training in sustainable gardening practices. The Giving Gardeners volunteered their time to learn how to cultivate healthy soil, plant and maintain crops, and build a garden designed to produce fresh food for those in need. What started as a learning experience quickly turned into impact.
The garden’s first harvest in early summer of 2025 yielded 27 pounds of lettuce and kale, all of which was donated to a local food pantry. As the season progressed, the Giving Gardeners expanded their efforts, growing a wide range of organic produce including leafy greens, squash, scallions, cabbage, potatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, carrots, beans, and fresh herbs.
By the end of the season, the team had produced an impressive 579 pounds of food, valued at approximately $4,500. These donations supported 27 nonprofit organizations across southern Maine and New Hampshire, including food pantries, community fridges, homeless shelters, and childcare centers - helping to address food insecurity while strengthening local partnerships.
The initiative has also inspired broader community engagement. Members of the credit union have taken notice, including Brieghan Gardner one who operates Stage Road Garden and has since stepped in to provide professional guidance, helping the team build on the success of its inaugural year.
As they prepare for the 2026 growing season, the Giving Gardeners are focused on expanding their impact and increasing production to further support food security efforts across the region.
“This garden is a vibrant expression of our mission to enrich and nourish the lives of others and the communities we serve,” said Lacey Melanson, team lead for Giving Gardeners. “We’re not only growing fresh, organic produce—we’re helping to nourish our neighbors. And we’re just getting started.”
Johanna Corcoran, Executive Director of the Lighthouse Credit Union Foundation emphasized the broader significance of the effort: “What the Giving Gardeners planted here goes far beyond produce. These seeds are taking root across the community - helping feed neighbors, inspiring a credit union member to share her own expertise, and creating opportunities for others to get involved in something meaningful. It’s the kind of impact that continues to grow long after the harvest.”
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