CALHOUN – Bowater Credit Union Member Cheyenne Whitehurst has won a $1,000 Pay It Forward prize for one of her favorite non-profit doing good in our area, Grace and Mercy Ministries.

Bowater Credit Union has asked its members to nominate their favorite non-profit helping people in the counties eligible for credit union membership: Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, and Polk.  Up to five $1,000 prizes are awarded each year, and Women At The Well is the third winner of 2021.

Grace and Mercy Ministries is a community outreach that seeks to feed the hungry, reduce poverty, restore dignity, and foster self-reliance.  “We meet a physical, social, and spiritual need,” says founder and Executive Director Tanya Murphy.  The ministry provides free lunch on Mondays and Fridays, currently serving an average of 90 meals each time.  The food is of course the physical need being met, but Grace and Mercy also provides a place for people to gather together, and pray together. 

The nominator, Cheyenne Whitehurst, learned about Grace and Mercy Ministries from her church, Sandford Baptist Church in Athens, TN.  In her entry nominating Grace and Mercy, she acknowledged “even a single dollar can make a significant difference, so you should not stop giving, especially in our small community.”  She also wrote that “Our consistent and enthusiastic efforts are contagious, and they might motivate others to do the same.”  In that spirit, if you are motivated to lear more about Grace and Mercy Ministries or to make your own donation, visit http://www.gracemercyt.org/.

The Pay It Forward program will continue in 2021, and that means any member of Bowater Credit Union can nominate their favorite non-profit for a $1,000 Pay It Forward prize. Up to five prizes will be given out in 2021, and the deadline to be considered for the next prize is November 30, 2021.

Bowater Credit Union began the Pay It Forward program in 2010 as a way to give back to the community it serves.  Since the program’s inception, Bowater CU has given $49,000 to various charities making a difference in our community.  For more information, visit BowaterECU.org.

Bowater Employees Credit Union is a federally insured credit union offering savings, checking, loans, and financial education to those who live, work, or go to school in the counties of Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, and Polk.  They have five branches, over 18,000 members, and $230 million in assets.  To learn more about Bowater Employees Credit Union and its services, call 423-336-7268 or visit BowaterECU.org.