SAFE members, employees donate to 270 Angel Tree recipients

SAFE Credit Union members and employees showed their gift-giving spirit in a big way this holiday season – collecting and donating more than $7,500 in gifts for 270 children through the Sacramento Metro Salvation Army's Angel Tree program. The credit union partnered with the Salvation Army as part of SAFE's annual Joy & Kindness philanthropic holiday campaign, inviting teams of SAFE branch and corporate employees to use $7,500 in allotted funds to support the greater Sacramento area nonprofit. Credit union members were also invited to contribute and participate by purchasing gifts for Angel Tree recipients. "Helping to make the dreams for so many children in the areas we serve come true this holiday season has been a joy for both our employees and our members," says SAFE Credit Union Senior Vice President of Retail Experience Staci Corral. "The rewards of connecting through helping others is priceless and we look forward to the possibility of joining together again through giving next year." During November and December, the Salvation Army set up Angel Trees in 20 area SAFE Credit Union branches where employees and members were invited to select tags to guide their donations to children in the greater Sacramento area. Each tag included information and wish lists including recipients' ages, clothing sizes and gender. After selecting a child to shop for, gift-givers brought their unwrapped items back to their SAFE branch and branch employees delivered the gifts to the Salvation Army at SAFE's employee holiday party. Roseville SAFE Branch Manager James Erickson says having the Angel Tree on display allowed employees to engage with members in a new way. "Having access to such a program really allows us to connect with our members and support programs we might not be able to otherwise," says Erickson. "Seeing the impact it has in our community really makes it all worthwhile and our members really enjoyed getting involved and seeing firsthand how SAFE can be a vehicle for good." Founded in 1979 in Lynchburg, Virginia, The Salvation Army Angel Tree program helps provide new clothing, toys and a holiday meal to thousands of families, children and seniors each year through generous donations. "The Salvation Army has so many incredible programs this time of year, but none of them are possible without incredible community support and partners like SAFE Credit Union," says Major John Brackenbury, divisional commander of The Salvation Army's Del Oro Division. This year's Angel Tree participating SAFE branches were: Antelope Branch, 7887 Walerga RoadCitrus Heights Branch, 7475 Madison Ave.East Elk Grove Branch, 9312 Elk Grove Blvd.East Sacramento Branch, 6341 Folsom Blvd.El Camino Branch, 3560 El Camino Ave.Folsom Branch, 2740 Bidwell St.Granite Bay Branch, 8789 Auburn Folsom RoadHazel Branch, 5261 Hazel Ave.K Street Branch, 2901 K St. in SacramentoLaguna Branch, 9162 Bruceville Road in Elk GroveLand Park Branch, 4700 Freeport Blvd.Lincoln Branch, 111 Ferrari Ranch RoadNorth Natomas Branch, 2761 Del Paso RoadRancho Cordova Branch, 12519 Folsom Blvd.Rocklin Branch, 6190 Stanford Ranch RoadRoseville Branch, 121 N. Sunrise Ave.Sunrise Branch, 7601 Sunrise Blvd.Watt Branch, 4636 Watt Ave. in North HighlandsWest Roseville Branch, 1541 Blue Oaks Blvd. West Sacramento Branch, 2105 Town Center Plaza