Local Credit Unions Unite for International Credit Union Day® to Support Tri-Cities Chaplaincy

RICHLAND, WASH. (October 16, 2025) ‒ In celebration of the 77th annual International Credit Union (ICU) Day®, which falls on October 16, five local credit unions – Gesa, HAPO, ICCU, Numerica, and STCU – are partnering with Tri-Cities Chaplaincy to assemble and distribute grief support kits for children and families in need. 

Cork’s Place, Tri-Cities Chaplaincy’s children’s grief program, provides these kits as an accessible resource for families who may not be able to attend its physical center. Each kit includes age-appropriate items to help guardians guide children through loss – from journals and memorization tools to books tailored to the type of grief, whether that be from the loss of a parent, sibling or pet. Local schools also rely on the kits to support classrooms impacted by tragedy. In 2025 alone, Cork’s Place distributed more than 400 kits.  

As part of this year’s collaboration, credit union team members will volunteer side-by-side to assemble hundreds of kits for future distribution. The credit unions will also pool resources to provide a combined donation of $22,000, ensuring the program can reach even more families across the Tri-Cities.  

In addition to building grief kits, volunteers will help set up a series of activity rooms at Cork’s Place designed to help children process grief in safe, accessible, and age-appropriate ways, including: 

• Recreation Room: Utilizing a life-size “Grief Jenga and Connect Four” to spark conversations about feelings and coping strategies 

• Art Room: Featuring a “Resilience Shield” activity, where children design shields to represent their strengths 

• Teen Room: Offering a “Grief Monsters” project that helps normalize big emotions through art 

• Paint Splatter Room: Inviting participants to respond to reflective questions through movement and creativity 

“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. “By working with our fellow credit unions to support Tri-Cities Chaplaincy and uplift local families facing hardship, we’re living out the philosophy of ‘people helping people’ in its truest form.” 

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.