Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union spreads kindness in Minnesota communities on Plus It Forward Day

ST PAUL, MN (October 16, 2015) — On Monday, Oct. 12, more than 540 Affinity Plus employees spent the day spreading kindness in communities across the state of Minnesota through their participation in the credit union’s annual Plus It Forward Day. Some of the day’s activities included volunteering at local nonprofit organizations, creating and delivering thank you cards to public servants, and performing random acts of kindness such as leaving change at vending machines to inspire others to Plus It Forward.

This is the third Plus It Forward Day event Affinity Plus has held since launching the Plus It Forward program in 2012. Plus It Forward was created to give members and employees of the credit union an organized and structured way to spread kindness in their communities, which is something they were already doing.

“The most important part of today is the community outreach and impact,” said Affinity Plus President/CEO Dave Larson. “It’s about people, which is the embodiment of the credit union philosophy.”

This year’s Plus It Forward Day was enhanced by the participation of 13 fellow Minnesota credit unions that hosted community days of kindness. Including Affinity Plus, 966 credit union employees logged more than 6,200 volunteer hours and spread kindness to an estimated 18,000 people in 36 communities across our state.

“This year’s Plus It Forward Day was tremendous, and I am humbled by the outpouring of support from within the industry and the tremendous impact that we were able to have as a collective, collaborative group,” Larson said. “The excitement and active involvement from credit unions around the state made this possible.”

Larson added that he expects Plus It Forward Day to continue to grow next year, noting several credit unions committed to joining this effort in 2016.

Here is a brief description of how kindness was spread by Affinity Plus employees during this year’s Plus It Forward Day in the communities it serves:

• Alexandria:Visited residents at Ecumen Bethany Homes and played games and music with them and hosted an art project.
• Bemidji: Visited nursing homes, helped bag groceries at local grocery stores, and gave dinner and movie gift certificates to Bemidji State University students; handed out hot cocoa, coffee, chocolates, and lunch.
• Brainerd: Spent the day volunteering for various non-profit organizations in the area for this and provided cleanup efforts at local parks.
• Cambridge: Volunteered at a local women’s shelter to help paint, finish yard work, and clean the facility; brought treats and cards to police and fire stations.
• Coon Rapids:Performed acts of kindness for members such as dropping off care packages or balloons, and delivered thank you notes and treats to local law enforcement and fire stations.
• St. Paul:Cleaned up local community parks and gardens; volunteered at homeless shelters, food shelves, environmental centers, and medical facilities; and brought treats to local nurses, police, and fire stations.
• Duluth: Served breakfast at local police departments and visited local fire stations to drop off food and coffee.
• Eagan:Delivered cards and treats to local police and fire stations, volunteered at Open Door Food Shelf, and hosted bingo at the Lincoln Place supportive housing development.
• Faribault:Brought treats and canine companions to assisted living facilities, volunteered at local schools, walked dogs for SAFE Sanctuary, and beautified local parks, rivers, and public areas.
• Fergus Falls:Encouraged members of the community to perform acts of kindness and share their stories by writing them on a banner displayed in Van Dyk Park.
• Grand Rapids: Partnered with Habitat for Humanity, Second Harvest Food Bank, the American Red Cross, and Star of the North Animal Shelter to finish projects in a Habitat home, pack food, distribute smoke detectors, and help with cleaning and repairs at the animal shelter.
• Hastings:Hosted Bingo for the residents of both the Oakridge and Regina assisted living centers, and handing out member-made thank you cards to police officers, fire fighters, hospital workers, small business owners, and other members of the Hastings community.
• Lakeville:Delivered cards and treats to local police and fire stations, and visited Fountains of Hosanna senior living center to host a craft and game day and to donate new games for residents.
• Mankato: Hosted a blood drive with local preferred dealer, Mankato Motors, and brought thank you cards and goodie baskets to local police and fire stations and hospitals.
• Minneapolis: Volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and partnered with Children’s Hospital to host activities and make cards and blankets; packed supplies and care kits for People Serving People, a homeless shelter for families.
• Moorhead: Read to school children at elementary schools, helped clean up local parks, volunteered at a local nursing home, and delivered pumpkins to civil servant and state employee departments.
• Rochester: Worked with Rochester Family Service, the Salvation Army, United Way, and Children’s Dental Health to help paint a home, package food, and complete other projects.
• Roseville: Served breakfast to and participated in activities with senior care center residents, and delivered treat baskets to local law enforcement and fire departments.
• St. Cloud: Honored local heroes, volunteered at Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, and gave away small gifts and treats around the community.
• Winona: Volunteered in Levee Park to paint, clean up streets and alleys, and write fun messages on sidewalks; handed out cards throughout the community, made by Affinity Plus members, with words of thanks and kindness.

Although Plus It Forward Day is an event that occurs one time each year, every day is an opportunity to spread kindness to someone else. All people – not just members and employees of the credit union – are welcome to participate in the program.

Plus It Forward stories can be read and shared, and news and information about the program can be found, on the Plus It Forward website at plusitforward.org.

Photos from Plus It Forward Day 2015: