Celebrating the importance of giving back

Now-a-days, it can be easy to get wrapped up in personal responsibilities, work demands, and everyday tasks. However, one of the most fulfilling and impactful things we can do is give back to our Communities. Whether it’s through volunteering, supporting local businesses, or contributing to a cause, the act of giving back has immense value.

At Centra, we’re rooted in giving back to the Communities we serve. Those communities are ones that our Members and Team Members work and live in. As a trusted not-for-profit financial institution, it’s important for us to provide support to those in need in our Communities. This helps make our cities and towns a better place to live, and it brings us a sense of fulfillment and joy knowing we’re doing our part to better the lives of our community members.

The Centra Foundation, Centra’s philanthropic branch, seeks to carry out our vision of creating value for our Members, Team Members, and Communities we serve. The Foundation has various programs and initiatives that run throughout the year, each focusing on helping different organizations that support those in need through various initiatives. Some of the Centra Foundation’s programs include our Holiday Giving Program, United Way Workplace Campaign, Team Member nominated donations, and scholarships.

Each year, Centra and the Centra Foundation make generous monetary donations to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations. Centra Team Members also provide donations to various food banks to help provide warm meals. They also collectively volunteer hundreds of hours of their time to get out into their communities to lend a helping hand.

Ways you can give back

Giving back doesn’t have to mean making monetary donations! As we covered in last month’s blog about The Credit Union Difference, there are many ways you can get involved, such as:

• Volunteer
• Donate (clothes, food, etc.)
• Join a mentorship program
• Shop local
• Support clean-up efforts
• Tutor
• Amplify the voices of local nonprofits

As the holidays rapidly approach, now’s the perfect time to look for ways to get involved in your community. Seeking out opportunities can sometimes feel challenging. We encourage you to look at Indiana.gov or United Way’s website to start. Even a simple Google search of volunteer opportunities near you can bring up some additional options!

Giving back is important. It fosters a sense of belonging by being an active participant in your community. It can help contribute to the collective growth of your community through improved education, better public health, or access to new services for underserved individuals. Together, we can all make a difference in not just the lives of those in our Communities, but our lives as well!