Fort Sill FCU employees spread kindness for Giving Tuesday Military campaign

Contributing to the Lawton/Fort Sill community is not an unfamiliar task for the associates at Fort Sill Federal Credit Union. But on Dec. 3, they took part in a special worldwide campaign called “Giving Tuesday Military.”

Military spouses Jessica Manfre, Coast Guard spouse; Samantha Gomolka, National Guard spouse; and Maria Reed, Army spouse, organized this global movement in hopes of achieving 1 million acts of kindness. The three women met in May in Washington, D.C., and instantly bonded after they were recognized with the Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year awards.

Inspired by their movement, FSFCU went out into the community, determined to spread kindness and inspiration. Associates from the credit union split up in groups and picked up 15 grocery tabs; distributed 24 care packages, which went to the Fort Sill gate guards and various soldiers on post; bought five lunches; delivered gifts to the Veterans Center Angel Tree; delivered food to the Armed Services YMCA Soldier’s Pantry; and volunteered to ring the bell for the Salvation Army.

“We received a message the next day from a member who witnessed one of our grocery purchases,” said Melody Barber, VP of growth & strategy. “He spoke with the woman after we left and discovered that she was in a financial predicament where she had to choose between groceries or purchasing medication. Now she was able to buy both!”

Denise Floyd, president/CEO of FSFCU stated, “We do our best to make a difference in people’s lives in this community but hearing about how we made an impact on just one person is invaluable.”