Pictured left to right: Brad Alexander, Bowater Hardwick Farms Branch Manager; Rev. Dave Whaley, Bowater CU Member; Donna Calhoun, Santa’s Angel Youth Director; Kay Green, Benton United Methodist Church
CALHOUN – Bowater Credit Union Member Dave Whaley has won a $1,000 Pay It Forward prize for his favorite non-profit doing good in our area, Santa’s Angel, an outreach of Benton United Methodist Church.
Bowater Credit Union has asked its members to nominate their favorite non-profit helping people in the counties eligible for credit union membership: Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, and Polk. Up to five $1,000 prizes are awarded each year, and Santa’s Angel is the fourth winner of 2021 entries.
Santa’s Angels has served over two hundred youth since its inception in 2017. The target reach is youth in poverty and particularly youth with incarcerated parents. Each fall, inmates at the Polk County Justice Center with family in the area are given applications to complete for their child/children asking for information on the children’s clothing size and Christmas gift wish. These requests are placed on the Angel tree at the church where members are able to select a form and purchase the toy, while the church purchases clothing items. All items are gift wrapped and placed under the tree for the children. Two weeks before Christmas, the youth and their families are honored with a Christmas breakfast, Bible story, and visit with Santa who delivers their gifts.
To learn more about Santa’s Angel, or to make your own donation, contact Donna Calhoun, Youth Director, at 423-338-5134.
The Pay It Forward program will award one more prize for entries submitted in 2021, and will award up to five prizes for entries submitted in 2022. Any member of Bowater Credit Union can nominate their favorite non-profit for a $1,000 Pay It Forward prize. The deadline to be considered for the next prize is February 28, 2022.
Bowater Credit Union began the Pay It Forward program in 2010 as a way to give back to the community it serves. Since the program’s inception, Bowater CU has given $50,000 to various charities making a difference in our community. For more information, visit https://bowaterecu.org/news-info/#payit
Some guests at the 2021 Santa’s Angel party: Gauge, Emma, Rhonda Campbell, and Toni Crisp