For the tenth year, Freedom Credit Union (Freedom) is partnering with the Department of Children and Families to provide gifts to children in need this holiday season.

"Over the past nine years, the generosity of Freedom's members, employees and area residents have brightened the holidays for children throughout the Pioneer Valley," says Glenn S. Welch, president/CEO of Freedom. "This year we hope to bring even more smiles to local families in need!"

Every branch of the credit union has a tree filled with tags that show the gift request from area children. Everyone who goes into a Freedom branch is invited choose a tag from the tree, purchase the requested gift, and bring it back unwrapped to the branch by Thursday, Dec. 21.

In 2016, Freedom collected 500 toys for foster children in Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties.