Wentzville, MO (September 15, 2017) – Local Credit Union Volunteers with KidSmart to Help Serve Teachers with Students in Need Throughout the St. Louis Area.
1st Financial Federal Credit Union is a local Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that is focused on serving the community with education, job training, and sustainable housing resources. In August, 1st Financial partnered with KidSmart Tools for Learning to raise awareness, volunteer, and host school supply drives throughout the St. Louis area. 
The credit union presented KidSmart with school supplies and $1,000.83 on September 14. This donation was made possible through 1st Financial’s monthly Helping People 1st grant, the fundraising efforts of 1st Financial’s Hazelwood branch, and the generosity of 1st Financial members and staff. 
KidSmart Tools for Learning is a local nonprofit that opened in 2002 and is continuously growing every day. Donations from individuals and businesses help keep the shelves of KidSmart’s Free Store stocked with everything from crayons, markers and glue. Community volunteers stock the shelves, manage inventory and keep the free store running each shopping day. 
On, August 29, 1st Financial Federal Credit Union employee volunteers volunteered at KidSmart’s Free Store. Eleven 1st Financial employees spent the day organizing school supplies and assisting teachers with supply shopping. 
Tanya Forsythe, 1st Financial Branch Manager of the Hazelwood location, organized the fundraising efforts throughout August. 
“The employees at 1st Financial enjoyed partnering with KidSmart. The Hazelwood branch hosted a bake sale, a plant sale, a book sale and one of our tellers even made homemade eggrolls to help raise additional funds!” said Forsythe. “We truly appreciate our relationship with KidSmart and are excited to give back to our community.”
For more information about 1st Financial Federal Credit Union and the credit union difference, visit www.thebetterwaytobank.org.

About 1st Financial Federal Credit Union
Like all credit unions, 1st Financial is a member-owned, financial cooperative that was chartered in 1968. With over 30,000 members and over $220 million in assets, 1st Financial is a St. Louis metro area financial institution dedicated to helping members achieve their financial dreams. 1st Financial Federal Credit Union serves those who live, work, worship, attend school, or regularly conduct business in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County, Missouri and a wide array of companies throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. Deposits are federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), an agency of the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit www.thebetterwaytobank.org.