Have you ever volunteered for a community service project? If not, is it because the idea seems a little intimidating? Or too much work to coordinate? Or you just don’t know how to get involved with the right project? Oooeee, can I relate!

Before I joined the One for All team, I had never really tried my hand at volunteer people-helping. I didn’t know who to talk to, how to get involved, or what I was supposed to do after I joined a project. Plus, I was a little touch-and-go about the idea of sacrificing my free time to work more.

Don’t worry, this anecdote has a heartwarming twist! (Lol, I wouldn’t let you down this late in the game…er, blog). Volunteering is a big part of my life now, and I love it. Plus these days, a big part of my job involves helping non-profits and co-workers coordinate projects around our big, wild State. It’s a blast, and at the end of day, I feel like I really helped people – like I’m living One for All.

I’m jibber-jabbering about this because I want to invite you to join a project. Sure, I’ve mentioned our One for All event calendar before, and sure, you’ve heard me talk about different projects the One for All team is doing – but today I’m personally inviting YOU to come volunteer with me! What sort of project would you like to do? I’ll be your volunteer buddy so you’re not alone at your first event. December projects are popping up on the events calendar, so keep an eye out and let me know what you want to do.

Personal suggestion: The Talkeetna Bachelor Society is raising funds for Women and Children in Crisis this weekend with a Wilderness Woman Contest and Bachelor Auction. This sounds AWESOME!

The Fall Feast is tonight at the Mountain View Boys and Girls Club in Anchorage! From 4:30pm-7:30pm, the One for All team will be helping serve dinner, clear tables, check coats, etc. This is Thanksgiving come early, and boy am I THANKFUL! Already, I think I can smell the sweet potatoes. And turkey….mmm. Wanna come? Dinner is free. Email me for more info.

I was hoping to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family in Wisconsin this year, but OUCH are those ticket prices high. Instead, I’m going to finally unpack the kitchen at my new place and have a meal at the table, not on paper plates! Whoa! I might even cook food that didn’t come in a box or can.

I’m kinda bummed to not see mom and pop for the holidays. Thanksgiving is during deer hunting season in Wisconsin, so all the guys head into the forest while my two little sisters, mom and I rent movies or go skiing. It’s girl-fun, and it’s as important as homemade mashed potatoes and gravy to my Thanksgiving.

Now that I’m a married girl, maybe it’s time to start my own holiday traditions. Like last year, when Dan and I drove all the way to Hope, AK trying to find the right Christmas tree. Here’s hoping that particular drive doesn’t become a tradition (Home Depot this year, hun) – but those sort of memories are what create a new family’s holiday nostalgia. I’m half of a new family, and we’re going to branch out on our own this Thanksgiving. I hope I don’t burn the turkey (isn’t that how it goes in the movies?).

Who will you spend the holidays with this year? If you’re missing your family, visiting the Fall Feast might help. When your blood family isn’t around, a strong community family can help fill the gap. The more we celebrate and grow together, the stronger we become. Like gremlins when you dump them in water. AHHH! 

Dear Snow:

Hey there!  I’ve been wondering when you'd come around. Thanks for that hour and a half commute this morning. Can I look forward to it regularly for the next few months?

A few extra inches of icy fluff aren’t going to get me down, you know. I’m prepared for winter! Coat, gloves, boots, snow tires, hefty windshield wipers - and a coffee pot on a timer. I’ve even got a not-too-happy husband who is on “plow the driveway” duty at 5:30am sharp until next April. Though…it’d be nice if you stopped falling before then (I’m just saying).

Sincerely,
Jess

Dear One for All readers:

Winter’s here – and even though I’m colder and more sleepy because of it, I’m still counting my blessings for having heat in my house and food on the table. We don’t all have that. Check out our events calendar for what’s happening in November; there are LOTS of food drives and free meals going out to Alaskan families. Many of us are in extra need this time of year, and it’s really inspiring to see so many community groups reaching out to help.

Here’s a special thanks to Beans Café, the Children’s Lunchbox, and the Food Bank of Alaska for coming out in full force this season, with hot meals and holiday cheer for all.

Thanks!
Jess

It’s almost November, which means the Barrels in Branches fund drive will be starting soon at CU1. This fundraiser benefits the Food Bank of Alaska - specifically in Anchorage, Kodiak, and Fairbanks. We hope you’ll stop by and give a buck for one of our cute paper barrels. People who donate get to write their name on a barrel, and we plaster our branch walls with them as décor.

Crazy Food Fact: Every $1 raised for the Food Bank buys 5 pounds of food for Alaskan families! 5 pounds! That’s a big meal for just a little green. If I take my $5 lunch and give half the cash to this fundraiser, that’s 10+ pounds of food in the bank! Personally, I wish I could save that efficiently all the time.

The weather’s getting cold and money is tight across our state. Not many of us have funds to spare. But happily, this is one fundraiser where every dollar we give will fill someone’s plate for the holidays. Can you buckle down and eat PBJ for two days next week? The money you save could feed an entire family!     

I bought a house! Yes, that’s right – I made the leap. I’ve been a serial renter for quite a few years now, but a few weeks ago Dan and I decided “enough is enough!” We’re spreading our entrepreneurial wings and investing in a triplex. Of course, this is only possible because it’s a big time fixer-upper. I can clean, Dan can fix, and together we’ve got a big project on our hands.

Speaking of hands.

I was feeling extremely overwhelmed this week, cleaning and patching and painting and repairing during every free moment of my day. But then I discovered… there were not just four hands at work here. (Yes, I’ve got two and Dan has two). When we got home from work last night, our overgrown mess of a “new yard” looked very different. The scattered branches, toppled trees, sticks, stones and litter that had cluttered the grass was GONE! In its place were neat piles of logs, two trash barrels, and a burn pile.

And then I met our new tenants. On the other side of our house live Papa Waldemar, Mama Anna, and children Barbara, Bert, Bernadette, Christina, Herbie, Phillip, and Rose (and one more little girl on the way!). Holy smokes! None of them speak very much English, but that certainly didn’t stop them from recognizing our need for a helping hand (er…18 helping hands).

I know that this family probably does not frequent the One for All site (and I did thank them profusely), but I also want to give a shout-out to their kind-heartedness on this public forum as well. They did Dan and me a huge favor this week, and I can’t wait to pay it forward.   

Has something nice happened to you lately? A random act of kindness? Share your story!

In honor of International Credit Union Day on Thursday...

This is interesting and hilarious! Part 3 is my favorite - it leaves you with the warm fuzzies.

Banks vs. Credit Unions

Did you know that October 15th is International Credit Union Day?! Don’t worry – there’s still time to send greeting cards to your close friends and family.

The One for All team is celebrating ICU Day in a big way this year. After all – the credit union motto pretty much nails our One for All spirit right on the head: “People helping people!”  A few of the sneaky, fun things we have planned for the Big Day include a guerilla good-will project in downtown Anchorage (this one’s secret…so you’re just going to have to check out 5th avenue that day), delicious pizza lunch for a few Alaskan volunteer orgs (they’ll never see this coming either!), and a pre-ICU Day party at our West High School Cyber Branch on Oct. 14th. Plus, we’ll have special treats and prizes at ALL of our branches.

At West High, our party will even be semi-educational! Julie, CU1's West High Branch Manager, is planning to chat with students about the difference between banks and credit unions. Sound a little dull? NOT REALLY! The difference is huge and exciting!

Fun fact: Did you know that credit unions all over the world are owned and operated by their communities? Every member of our CU is a part-owner - which means everything we do, we do for you. (Yeah…it’s like that Bryan Adams song).

When we celebrate ICU Day, we’re really celebrating the spirit of financially and socially helping our neighbors - not for profit or stockholders’ gain, but for YOU, your family and friends.

Isn’t that a nice feeling?       

Results are in from our “Who Are We Helping Next” vote, and...

Enep'ut Children's Center in Fairbanks is our winner!

Now – HOW can we help? How can the Children’s Center use the One for All team’s skill and people-power for a day? Share your ideas, and let’s get this project rolling!

The One for All team headed out to Mt. View last night for our Adopt-a-Road project, and things got a little wild...

I think Mollie in Marketing pulled a super Hulk move and tossed this cement block at Steve in Admin. We didn't catch the next scene on film, but Steve turned completely green and did a juggling bit with blocks & trash bags.

Plus, the street got clean. We're Adopt-a-Road superheroes! If you want to help out next time, keep an eye on our event calendar.

The One for All team got a message from its adopted Army Battery this week! Our guys are doing well, but they’re settling in for a tough few months as the seasons change in Afghanistan. This month, CU1 employees are sending care packages full of hygiene items. I’m heading to the store for some baby wipes and deodorant – perfect for cleaning up on the fly.

Did you know that Credit Union 1 has this adopted Battery? We take care of about 95 guys from Fort Richardson who are currently deployed to Afghanistan. A few weeks ago we received an email from a member saying that he’d like us to share more info about “our guys.” Interested? Read on!

Our adoption project started back in 2007 with an Army Platoon of 34 men who were deployed to Iraq. When our Platoon safely returned, we threw the party of all parties to celebrate. At this shindig, a different Platoon leader within our soldiers' Battery told us how impressed he was with our support. Apparently in Iraq, our adopted Platoon received so many care packages from the credit union that it seemed like "Credit Union 1 was everywhere!" (haha – we do support Alaskans, everywhere!) .

Listening to this soldier, our fearless leader and President/CEO Leslie Ellis sensed an opportunity to challenge the credit union and provide a perfect way for us to support and serve the military community. That night, we decided to take the entire Army Battery into adoption!

Our project now benefits almost 100 men from the Alpha Battery 2nd of the 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment stationed at Fort Richardson, Alaska. Currently, our Battery is overseas on an 18 month deployment to Afghanistan. The One for All team has sent personal cards and care packages every month since they left. If you’d like to donate to our Battery, shoot me an email! Our community support will help bring these soldiers home safely.

"It's things like this that keep our hopes up and keep us going in times of need.” - SPC David Beaulieu