SANTA FE, New Mexico — Del Norte Credit Union (DNCU), Northern New Mexico’s hometown financial cooperative reinforces their mission of Improving Lives in the last months of the year by calling it their Season of Giving. Although the credit union supports and sponsors initiatives, events, and causes year-round, the last few months of the year are filled with joy and warmth for the DNCU team. It all starts on International Credit Union day, celebrated on October 17th, DNCU spends the day at their adopted park and gives back to their beloved community of Española. DNCU adopted Valdez Park in 2015 and since then has helped maintain the cleanliness of the park and donated funds to upgrade some of the facilities.

“This year, we decided to clean the park on International Credit Union Day to remind our team and our community that our number one goal is to be an active participant in our local communities and to bring a positive impact to those who need it most”, says DNCU’s President/CEO, Chuck Valenti. “As a cooperative, we work together to bring world-class financial services to New Mexico, and we also work together to better our communities.”

Following their park clean up DNCU’s Season of Giving included two elementary schools in Los Alamos and White Rock: Aspen Elementary and Chamisa Elementary. Both schools are situated where DNCU’s legacy first began 65 years ago as Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory Credit Union. For the past three years, DNCU has helped fund Thanksgiving lunches for both schools. The lunch that is provided serves school faculty and students.

“This small gesture of kindness reminds us of our roots, where it all began, and the importance of never forgetting the communities that continue to inspire our credit union to be the best in every way possible”, says AVP of Branch Service Delivery at Los Alamos and White Rock, Matt Waldschmidt. “Seeing those kids faces light-up and tell you how much they love DNCU is a wonderful feeling. We are building relationships that last a lifetime, and that’s what we nurture at our branches.”

On November 15th, DNCU finalized their 5th annual coat drive that supports youth shelters across Northern New Mexico. Five organizations picked up thousands of coats, scarves, gloves, and socks that DNCU members and employees donated. “Every year our coat drive just keeps getting bigger and bigger, we even had members bring monetary donations that we would then take to stores and purchase new coats with”, says Carolyn Agard, AVP of Branch Service Delivery at the Midtown Financial Center in Santa Fe.

On November 27th, DNCU delivered Thanksgiving dinners to area firefighters and first responders that work through the holiday.  In total, 17 boxed dinners were delivered that fed about 170 firefighters and their families from Santa Fe City Fire Department, Los Alamos County Fire Department, Española Valley Fire Station, Pecos Fire Station, and Ojo Sarco Fire Station. “DNCU learned about the stories of our first responders, and the fact that many of them can’t spend time at home with their loved-ones during the holidays. That’s why DNCU graciously partners up with food markets to provide them with these dinner boxes”, says Cecilia Roybal, AVP of Branch Service Delivery at the DeVargas location in Santa Fe North.

And in December, DNCU is surprising families at grocery stores for their annual Grocery Giveaway. A total of 62 DNCU employees have a $100 budget each to surprise any family and help pay for their groceries during the month of December.

“Our team loves this initiative and the joy and warmth that it brings you to be able to do this”, says Eric Baldonado, VP of Service Delivery. “We are humbled that DNCU allows us to do this, but we are also proud that our credit union designs creative ways to bring cheer to our community during the holidays—we wouldn’t have it any other way.”

To find out more about DNCU’s community development and to find out how easy it is to become a member, visit dncu.org

About Del Norte Credit Union  
Chartered in 1954, Del Norte Credit Union is a not-for-profit cooperative celebrating 65 years of dedication to helping its members achieve financial success by being a trusted source of unbiased financial advice. Today DNCU serves more than 51,000 members throughout New Mexico.