SPRINGFIELD — Freedom Credit Union partnered with its members and the community during the month of December to raise money for the Pioneer Valley United Service Organization (USO). With the bank contributing a match of $2,500, its efforts raised a total of $7,500.
“We heard that our local USO at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee had experienced a drop in donations for their food pantry over the past year, and we wanted to bridge the gap over the holidays to ensure that those who sacrifice so much for our freedom had what they needed,” President Glenn Welch said in a Freedom Credit Union press release. “As always, our members and local community rose to the challenge when we offered to match their donations. We are grateful and proud to be able to contribute to this important effort.”
Freedom Credit Union has branches across Western Massachusetts, including in Greenfield and Turners Falls.
The mission of USOs, the release states, is to strengthen America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country throughout their service. The Pioneer Valley USO, located at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee:
■Provides more than 102,000 pounds of food to over 3,200 individuals annually through the Emergency Food Pantry;
■Supports more than 600 families with holiday food baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas annually;
■Sends more than 500 care packages to deployed military men and women;
■And supports Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee and Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield.
Allan Tracy, executive director of the Pioneer Valley USO, said that over the holidays, about 220,000 American men and women were on active duty in 100 countries and unable to be home for the holidays.
“Even while they are deployed, our military members are worried about their loved ones at home,” Tracy said. “Thanks to the incredible generosity of Freedom Credit Union and its members, we were able to alleviate some of their stress.”