GOSHEN — Interra Credit Union’s 23^rd annual Hometown Giving project is in full swing to help a variety of agencies across a six-county area. Several initiatives focus on providing funding, hosting parties for children, shopping for adopt-a-family programs and more.

Corporate support of $20,000, combined with staff fundraisers and member involvement, make the project so successful, Karen Steffensen, vice president of communications and community engagement, said. A staff committee met earlier this fall to review and determine which agencies Hometown Giving will support this year. Committee members contacted agencies to learn about wish list needs, plan parties and adopt families.

The primary internal fundraiser is a staff silent auction. Interra employees have donated about 75 gift baskets, baked goods, experiences, hand-crafted items and more. All staff will then take part in a four-day online silent auction this month to raise money for the service project. Other staff fundraisers provide for days off with pay, gift cards and other items. In addition, Interra employees may purchase up to 10 dress-down stickers, with all funds going to Hometown Giving.

Angel Trees are up at all 16 Interra offices to provide support for the project. Members and employees are taking paper ornaments from the trees, shop for items and return them to Interra by designated due dates, ranging from early this month through the end of the year.

Donation canisters are also located at all Interra offices as part of the “Be the Change” component of the project. Members are invited to donate spare change, or even a few dollars, to help those in need.

Agencies supported by Hometown Giving are localized throughout Interra’s six-county footprint based on the service area of the agency – city, county or school district. Hometown Giving agencies this year include: ADEC; ARC Opportunities; Bashor Children’s Home; Boys and Girls clubs of Goshen, Elkhart, Middlebury, Nappanee and Bremen; CAPS; Cardinal Services; Center for Healing and Hope; Church Community Services; Compassionate Pregnancy Center; Elkhart County Council on Aging; Elijah Haven; Family Christian Development Center; Fairfield Food Pantry; Lakeland Youth Center; Lighthouse Ministries; MDC Goldenrod; Monroe Circle Community Center Christmas Shop; The Post; RETA; Ryan’s Place; Safe Haven (Women’s Shelter); Salvation Army of Goshen; Syracuse Food Pantry; Triton Elementary School; Wakarusa Elementary School; West Noble Primary School; and The Window.

“The success of the service project is a combined effort of the credit union, our staff and members,” Steffensen pointed out. For more information about Interra’s Hometown Giving project, contact any Interra office or visit online.