Gesa Credit Union’s annual “Day of Service” gives back to more than 30 local organizations
Gesa team members unite on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, dedicating over 2,400 hours of service to 31 community organizations across the state
RICHLAND, WA (October 13, 2023) — Gesa, a community-focused credit union, today announced the sweeping impact of its second annual “Day of Service,” an employee initiative that mobilized over 480 Gesa team members to give back to local communities. On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, celebrated October 9, Gesa closed its 28 branches to allow its team members to spend the day volunteering. This decision enabled them to give back and make a significant difference in their communities. In total, 31 organizations across Washington benefitted from Gesa’s extensive volunteer work.
A whopping 2,400+ hours were dedicated by Gesa team members across the state, who volunteered for a variety of organizations and nonprofits including senior centers, food banks, parks and recreation centers, community enrichment programs, education institutions, animal shelters, and more. Team members also wrote and delivered letters expressing their gratitude and appreciation for the dedicated efforts of our local heroes, including Law Enforcement, Firefighters, Veterans, Educators and Healthcare Workers.
“At Gesa, we are committed to empowering the communities we serve. We are honored to have partnered with these local organizations for our second annual Day of Service, as their invaluable contributions create a lasting positive impact across our state,” said Don Miller, President and CEO of Gesa Credit Union. “Our annual Day of Service project has easily become one of my favorite initiatives that we do here at Gesa. In the process of coming together to maximize our collective community impact, we’re also enabling and empowering our team members to support organizations and causes that they are personally passionate about.”
A few of the organizations helped were Kennewick Demonstration Garden, Spokane’s Habitat for Humanity, Rod’s House in Yakima and Bella’s Voice in Lynnwood. At the Demonstration Garden, Gesa team members assisted with pulling weeds, pruning roses, planting herbs and preparing the garden for next spring. Volunteers who participated at the Spokane Habitat for Humanity, a donation-based home improvement and goods store, helped with tasks such as unpacking, pricing items and arranging them on the floor for Christmas merchandising. Those who volunteered at Rod’s House in Yakima engaged in shopping and donating items as well as helping with facility cleanup. The team also took part in a Q&A session to learn more about how this nonprofit organization supports and empowers young individuals. At Bella’s Voice in Lynnwood, Gesa helped the nonprofit both in-person and online, with team members assisting at the register and with merchandising, repackaging pet food, and helping with the organization’s social media.
Gesa team members volunteered at the following organizations:
Moses Lake
- Grant County Animal Outreach
- Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation
Spokane
- Habitat for Humanity
- Second Harvest
- Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture
Tri-Cities
- Second Harvest
- Service Peace Warriors
- Benton Franklin Humane Society
- Boys & Girls Club
- Grace Kitchen
- Richland Parks & Recreation
- Pasco Parks & Recreation
- Financial Reality Fair Hosted at New Horizons High School
- Kennewick Library, Demonstration Garden
- Safe Harbor My Friends Place
Bremerton
- Boys & Girls Club of Puget Sound
Lynwood
- Bella’s Voice
- Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
- Northshore Senior Center
Tukwila
Tacoma/Puyallup
- Point Defiance Park Restoration
Walla Walla
- Walla Walla Veterans Home
Wenatchee
- Alatheia Therapeutic Riding
Yakima
- Northwest Harvest
- Rod’s House
- Wellness House
Vancouver
Pullman
- Pullman Police Department
- Pullman Fire Department
- Pullman High School
- Pullman Regional Hospital
For more information about Gesa Credit Union’s involvement in the community, visit https://www.gesa.com/community.
About Gesa Credit Union
Gesa Credit Union is one of Washington’s largest credit unions with over $5.5 billion in assets and is nearly 290,000 members strong. Gesa is a full-service financial institution that offers a complete array of consumer, mortgage, and business products and services. Headquartered in Richland, Washington, Gesa operates 29 branches, loan centers, full-service student-operated campus branches at Washington State University, and 13 student-operated high school branches across Washington state. The Gesa Community Foundation, established in 2022, further supports Gesa’s ongoing commitment to local communities and charitable giving, which includes support for schools, Local Heroes groups, and community organizations through its Affinity Debit Card Program, as well as through its annual youth scholarships, and free financial and educational resources available to members and the general public. For more information, visit gesa.com.
