Here’s what happens when a credit union asks its community to pitch in: more than 11,000 school supplies find their way to kids who need them.
Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU), based in Northern Illinois, just wrapped up its annual Fill the Boat School Supply Drive, and the results were pretty impressive. Think backpacks stuffed with notebooks, enough pencils to write a few novels, crayons in every color imaginable, and all those other essentials that somehow cost a fortune every August.
The drive pulled in contributions from three key groups: GLCU members, employees, and community partners. People could drop off supplies at local branches the old-fashioned way, or add items to the credit union’s Amazon Wish List for those who prefer their generosity with two-day shipping.
Where All Those Supplies Ended Up
Once the collection period ended, GLCU branch teams became Santa’s elves in September, coordinating deliveries to schools and organizations across the communities they serve. No child should have to stress about whether they’ve got the right supplies on day one, and this drive helped eliminate that worry for thousands of local students.
This isn’t a one-off feel-good story, either. The Fill the Boat School Supply Drive is part of GLCU’s broader commitment to supporting their communities through education initiatives, volunteer work, and partnerships with local organizations. Because as it turns out, being a not-for-profit financial cooperative means you can actually prioritize people over profits—imagine that.
Eleven thousand items might sound like a lot (because it is), but it represents something bigger: a community that shows up when kids need a helping hand to start the school year on the right foot.