Several credit unions have launched new advocacy initiatives to benefit their communities this fall. Here is what a few of them are currently doing to actively further the “people helping people” philosophy.

CFCU Community Credit Union, headquartered in Ithaca, is supporting Community Action Programs Cayuga/Seneca, or CAP, by matching donations to the nonprofit organization. CAP serves more than 7,000 individuals annually in Cayuga and Seneca Counties and offers more than 40 programs designed to alleviate hunger and homelessness, help domestic violence victims, prepare individuals for the workforce, provide early childhood development, improve health outcomes, lower energy costs and consumption, strengthen families and mitigate crisis.

CFCU Community Credit Union will match up to $25 per donation, for donations made at their Tops Plaza Waterloo branch until Nov. 25. The credit union will also make a $25 donation to CAP in the name of every person who opens a new account.

Island FCU has teamed up with Section XI, part of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, to establish literacy campaigns and to award scholarships to deserving scholar athletes from Long Island. Section XI oversees interscholastic athletics that serves 59 member high schools, over 75 member middle/junior high schools and more than 80,000 athletes.

Island FCU, based in Hauppauge, has also teamed up with Stony Brook University Athletic Department to host virtual financial literacy seminars designed to assist students and their families navigate the process of student loans, grants, scholarships, name, image and likeness legislation, in addition to other financial factors facing today’s college students and collegiate student-athletes.

To help supplement Long Island pantries, Teachers FCU is hosting a Thanksgiving food drive through Nov. 12. Collected donations will be given to Family Service League, a grassroots social service agency that provides security, support and empowerment to more than 50,000 of the Long Island community’s most vulnerable, to be distributed among families needing some support this Thanksgiving season. Food collection bins are located at all 32 branches throughout Long Island, Queens and Manhattan.

What’s your credit union doing to help the community? Let us know by emailing communications@nycua.org.