Visions Federal Credit Union’s Saddle Brook branch donated a snow blower to local man Brian Schwartz, who was laid off in June due to the pandemic.
Schwartz started his own business mowing lawns for the elderly and veterans in the community when he was laid off. He now has started his own charitable initiative removing snow from the driveways of seniors.
“It really inspired me to keep this charitable work going until spring comes back around. 2020 was a challenging year for all of us. On top of getting laid off from my job at the peak of the pandemic, we had our first newborn son, Dylan, and my father has been battling brain cancer. So, instead of hibernating and moping around, this snow blower helps me channel my energy into the greater good with hopes to inspire others,” said Schwartz.
Visions was impressed by the efforts made by Schwartz, which is why they decided on the snow blower donation as an Act of Kindness.
“His story caught our attention when it was highlighted on CNN because this was taking place right in the communities we serve. We wanted to find a creative way that Visions Federal Credit Union could help support him in giving back to the community,” said Shari Leone, Community Development Liaison at Visions.
Visions wanted to make sure that Schwartz’s community efforts did not go unnoticed.
“It just goes to show when you work hard and be kind, good things happen to you in some shape or form. At the start of 2020, I never thought I'd be in this position, but I'm finding true happiness in helping others. Helping out elderly neighbors brings me back to my childhood when I went around town shoveling driveways,” Schwartz said.
The Acts of Kindness program is a movement Visions started in 2016 as part of its 50th anniversary. This program is about putting a smile on someone’s face, whether it’s a cup of coffee, a free family night at the movies, or a snow blower, in this case. One Act of Kindness can simply remind others that we are all in this together and the importance of paying it forward.
“This was a tremendous donation, not just the size of the machine itself, but it enables me to help more clients in a shorter amount of time. During summer and fall, I had clients asking me about snow removal and I honestly wasn't sure how I'd be able to handle all of the requests,” said Schwartz.
Visions hopes that this donation will help Schwartz’s business greatly this winter and allow him to help even more people in the community.
