Operation Thank You Success!

​Credit Unions United Chapter collected nearly 6,000 items to fulfill the immediate needs of veterans in their community. 

Since 2019, Minot credit unions have participated in an annual event to help support local veterans in need, dubbed Operation Thank You. The brainchild of North Star Community CU Branch Manager Sandi Widdel as part of her Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE) training, the project gained momentum when it was adopted by the chapter.
 
Operation Thank You collects personal care items and hygiene products such as shampoo, deodorant, feminine products, toothpaste and toothbrushes, and the like. Participating credit unions act as donation sites, once the items are collected they are distributed through the Veterans Affairs Office which in turn offers the items to local homeless veterans and veterans in need.
 
This year, a total of 5,986 individual items were collected!

Minot Veteran’s Affairs Director, Aaron Moss, shared that once word got out about the items, they immediately
had five calls from veterans in need! The US Department of Veterans Affairs estimates the number of Veterans
​who experienced homelessness in 2023 exceeded 35,000. Many more veterans live in poverty, and/or have disabilities such as PTSD, substance abuse, and other injuries. Undoubtedly, these items will help to make the lives of those who have given so much just a bit easier.