RICHLAND, WASH. (October 16, 2025) ‒ In celebration of the 77th annual International Credit Union (ICU) Day®, which falls on October 16, six local credit unions – ACU, Gesa, Harborstone, Obee, Sound, and Tapco – are joining forces to support four Boys & Girls Club locations in Washington: the Alderwood Club in Lynnwood, Raj Manhas Activity Center (RMAC) in Lacey, Gary & Carol Milgard Family Hope Center in Lakewood and the Al Davies Club in Tacoma.
Over 75 credit union employees will spend the day at each site creating festive fall and Halloween-themed decorations and organizing snack inventory. These projects will help ensure that youth at the Clubs have safe, welcoming environments filled with seasonal cheer, along with the everyday resources they rely on after school.
For these organizations, food is one of the most essential services. In 2024 alone, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County served more than one million meals and snacks to youth across its 27 locations, reaching over 26,000 kids. The Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound served more than 8,000 youth, with over 133,000 meals and snacks provided across its nine sites in Pierce, Kitsap and Mason counties. Meanwhile, the nine Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County provided over 101,000 meals to nearly 2,000 kids. Organizing snack inventory is a vital part of ensuring these young people have consistent access to nutrition in safe, positive spaces.
“At the heart of credit unions is the belief that we make the greatest difference for our communities when we come together,” said Amber Merrill, Community Relations Manager at Gesa Credit Union. “Supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs and the work they do means making sure young people have access to the essentials – from snacks and meals to a welcoming environment – that allow them to show up ready to learn and thrive.”
This International Credit Union Day, the participating credit unions aim to raise awareness about the positive role that credit unions and other financial cooperatives play in their communities and encourage more members to get involved. This year’s theme, “Cooperation for a Prosperous World,” captures the spirit of this work.
International Credit Union Day celebrates the spirit of the global credit union movement. This day is recognized to reflect upon the credit union movement’s history, promote its achievements, recognize its hard work, and share member experiences. International Credit Union Day has been celebrated on the third Thursday of October since 1948.