Our Social Promise: Financial One’s Essential Donations and Sponsorships

Financial One Credit Union believes in the value of lending a hand in our community. We work with many nonprofit organizations to provide food, shelter, and clothing through our Essentials Program. In this program, we vow to do three things:

1. Provide 1,000 pounds of food to a local food shelf for each auto loan we fund
2. Provide one night of housing for to someone in need to match each home equity loan we fund
3. Provide 1 coat to a veteran in need for every checking line of credit we open. 

In 2016, Financial One gave a total of $93,806 to donations and sponsorships of local non-profits. We donated 136,892 lbs of food, 269 nights of shelter, and 184 clothing items. If you visit our site today, you’ll see those numbers continue to grow, as we continue to keep our Social Promise.

Hope 4 Youth

Gov. Dayton proclaimed October 10th of last year as #PlusItForwardDay in Minnesota. On this day, more than half of our staff participated in cleaning Hope 4 Youth's facility, learning about the wonderful things they do and enjoying a meal together. This day was meaningful and impactful to all involved, which inspired us to call it 1 With Our Community Day.

We were also able to donate 30 nights of shelter to people in need to the Hope 4 Youth Organization.

Coat Delivery

Although homelessness has been on the decline in the last few years among veterans, the statistics are still far above the general population. At Financial One, we want to honor the service of these brave men and women and show our support. Thanks in part to our coat drive, the Department of Veterans Affairs of Minnesota was able to provide the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans with needed coats for veterans facing financial hardship and transitioning to sustainable housing. We delivered 150 coats to the VA hospital to be given to veterans in need and continue to support our military members in the community.

The North Anoka County Emergency Food Shelf (NACE)

NACE is more than just a food shelf; it provides food, clothing, crisis packs, holiday meals, birthday packs, and delivers to the immobile in need in Northern Anoka County. For an organization that does so much good in our community, we were more than happy to provide 25,000 pounds of food to NACE.

 

Stepping Stone Emergency Housing

Stepping Stone is a temporary housing organization that caters to men and women of Anoka County - some as young as 18 years old. They offer safe living space and support for at-risk and homeless people in the community. We were happy to fund 100 nights of services to Stepping Stone Emergency Housing.


At Financial One Credit Union, we are committed to living our mission: To improve the financial well-being and peace of mind of our members and others within the communities we serve. If you would like more information or would like to volunteer or make a donation, visit our website to learn more.

Become a Beer Connoisseur at the Fifth Annual Hops for Hunger Event

The time has come for the fifth annual Hops for Hunger event! The event takes place March 25th at the Solar Arts Building in Minneapolis. Proceeds will go to the Southern Anoka Community Assistance Food Shelf and Thrift Store.  

Join us from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for beer selections from 21 local brewers, delicious food from Chowgirls Killer Catering, music by Analog Drifters & The Travelin’ Mobury’s, a silent auction, and a beer wall. For ticket information, visit hopsforhunger5.eventbrite.com.

At this year’s event, make it a goal to become a beer connoisseur! Use our simple guide below to learn how to taste and distinguish beers like a pro:

Know Your Beers

If you have tried certain beers in the past and didn’t like them, take this chance to try out some new beers. Beer can come in a nearly endless variety of styles. With common domestic and foreign beers as well as hundreds of microbreweries, there’s a solid chance that the perfect pint is out there waiting for you. Take a look at this Huffington Post beer guide for a quick lesson on some of the more common beer types.

Pour it Out

Pouring your drink into a glass will help release the aromas and CO2. This will help you better experience the full flavor and body of the beer.

Check the Temperature

Drinking beer at the correct temperature can change the way you experience a beer. While a cold one straight from the fridge can be an undeniably satisfying treat on a warm day, many lighter beers—lagers, pilsners, and blondes—actually taste better at 33-45 degrees. Dark and strong beers, like stouts and porters, are best at room temperature. And in case you need a reminder, chill your beer instead of icing it or drinking it from a frosted glass, both of which can spoil the flavor.

What Aromas do You Smell?

Your sense of smell is an important factor in how you experience certain events, and with beer tasting, it’s no different. When tasting a beer, begin by swirling it around in the glass. This stimulates and releases carbonation that can help carry the aroma up to your nose. What notes can you detect? Caramel? Coffee? Does it smell like citrus, pine, or florals? These notes all tell you something different about the beer.

Check Out the Appearance

With a well-poured beer, there are certain features that can clue you in on the quality. If a beer has a good head retention, (the foam doesn’t collapse) it is an indication that it’s a well-crafted beer. If your beer leaves a “Belgian lace” pattern indicated by a lace-like pattern on the glass, this is another sign of a quality-made beer.

Tasting Time

Similar to wine tasting, there can be many complex notes in your beer. Swirl the beer in your mouth before consuming in order to take note of the flavors. Let it coat your tongue and the top of your throat before swallowing. How intense are the flavors? Is it well-balanced? What is the mouthfeel like? Mouthfeel can describe the texture and weight of a beer. Is it light or heavy? Is it too carbonated?

What’s the finish?

Take a second after you finish your sip. Is it sweet or bitter? What taste lingers in your mouth? How intense is it? Does any taste linger at all? Most importantly, was it satisfying? This will tell you a great deal about your brew.

Financial One Credit Union is a proud sponsor of the fifth Annual Hops for Hunger event. We hope to see you this year, and hopefully, we were able to give you some new tricks to taste each delicious brew!

Serve the Community by Participating in Hops for Hunger

This weekend, the Southern Anoka Community Assistance will be presenting the fourth annual Hops for Hunger event. The Southern Anoka Community Assistance is a non-profit food shelf that has been serving the communities of Columbia Heights, Hilltop, Fridley, and Spring Lake Park for nearly forty years.

The Southern Anoka Community Assistance Food Shelf annual craft beer fundraiser will be sponsored by Financial One Credit Union.

Hops for Hunger will feature delicious and unique beers from 19 local craft brewers including Indeed, Urban Growler, Barley John's Brew Pub, Boom Island, Fair State Brewing Co-op, Bauhaus, Sociable Cider Werks, Able Seedhouse & Brewery, Bent Brewstillery, Northgate, 10K Brewing, 612, North Loop Brew Co, Bad Weather, American Sky, Insight, 56 Brewing, Dangerous Man and Inbound Brewing.

The event will also include food catered by Chowgirls Killer Catering, a silent auction, and music by Minneapolis-based bands Analog Drifters and Blue Groove.

For each dollar raised through the Hops for Hunger event, Southern Anoka Community Assistance will be able to purchase eight pounds of food. To put that into perspective, one $40 ticket will buy 320 pounds of food.

Southern Anoka Community Assistance serves approximately between 39,500 to 45,000 pounds of food monthly to nearly 2,000 families in crisis. Southern Anoka Community Assistance also works with community partners, schools, and police and fire departments to bring food and hygiene products to students in need. The nonprofit also provides a homeless youth program and is in partnership with the 5 Anoka County food shelf.

The event will take place on Saturday, March 26th from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Solar Arts Building at 711 15th Avenue NE, Minneapolis. Tickets are $40. All proceeds will benefit the Southern Anoka Community Assistance Food Shelf. To reserve tickets, visit, 2016 Hops for Hunger 4.0.

Contribute to the community by enjoying a night of local crafts brews, delicious food created by Minneapolis chefs, and local music from Twin Cities natives.

For more information on the event, visit the Southern Anoka Community Assistance website and the Southern Anoka Community Assistance Facebook page.

Getting Back on Track After Holiday Spending

With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, many things can get away from you - especially your spending. Everyone wants to be generous with their gift-giving, but this can really put a dent in your savings. If you have found yourself in this situation, we have a few simple tips to dig yourself out of the holiday hole and get your finances back on track.  

Reevaluate Your Finances

The best place to start is by reevaluating your finances.Take a look and categorize the things you bought during the holidays. This includes gifts, food, travel, decor items, and any other added expenses. Be sure to look at where the money came from, either savings, checking or credit cards. Take a look at your monthly income and compare that to your spending. Doing this will allow you to see how much money you can put towards paying off your debt. By reacquainting yourself with your accounts, you will have a better idea of how much debt you have and you will be able to give yourself an accurate timeframe on paying it all back.

Cut Costs Where You Can

This may sound obvious, but it really is the best way to save money. Since you have already evaluated your finances, you should have a pretty good understanding of where you are spending your money. Even cutting back on small things can really help. For example, make your own coffee rather than buying it, pack a lunch rather than going out, or rent a movie rather than going to the theater. All of these little things can add up to big savings which you can use to pay off your debt or to rebuild your savings account.

Create a Payment Plan

If you want to get out of debt quickly, you’ll need a plan. According to Ann Walter of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS), it should ideally take you no more than three months, however, each person is different. There are a variety of ways to help figure out how much to pay off each month. First, try our financial calculator to help you come up with a plan. You can also contact a consultant for help. Financial One CU has a skilled staff that can help you come up with the perfect payment plan to help get you out of the holiday hole.

If you are finding it hard to stay within your budget, try to use cash instead of a card. This will give you a tangible way to stay on budget; once the cash is gone, you can't spend any more.

If you are serious about getting out of the holiday hole, we recommend asking a professional. Our representatives can answer all of your questions and help you find a payment plan that works best with your budget. Although it may seem hard to save after spending so much on the holidays, we can help guide you through the process and start your 2016 off on the right foot.

Tis’ the Season of Giving

With the season of giving heading into full swing, many people are looking for ways to give back to their community. Giving back to our community is a huge part of who we are at Financial One Credit Union. However, we understand the ability to give varies from person to person, as it is often dependent on an individual’s financial situation and amount of free time. If you are in search of ways to give back to your community this holiday season, check out some of the ideas below. You’re sure to find one that fits your budget and your schedule.

The Salvation Army

During the holiday season, the Salvation Army is always looking for volunteers to be bell ringers. By volunteering for just one shift as a bell ringer (which is two hours long), you will be able to raise enough money to provide a week’s worth of groceries to a family in need. If bell ringing isn’t your thing, there are several other opportunities to give back through the Salvation Army.

Greater Twin Cities United Way

Another great organization to give back with is the Greater Twin Cities United Way. It is their mission to create better lives for both individuals and the community by uniting people in the fight against poverty. They offer a variety of ways to give back, which include volunteering, donating, and participating in events.

Big Brothers Big Sisters

If you’d like to give back to children this holiday season, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities is a great option. This organization focuses on helping children realize their potential and start building their futures. They also have several ways to give back, which include donating, volunteering, and participating in events.

Toys for Joy

Similar to Toys for Tots, Toys for Joy is a charitable organization that collects Christmas toys for underprivileged children. The difference is that all of the money raised stays in Anoka County. They have volunteer opportunities available and also welcome donations of food, toys, and funding.

Meals On Wheels

This association works to ensure that seniors and people with disabilities in your community receive the nutritious meals and social interaction they need to live independently at home. You can give back through Meals On Wheels by volunteering to deliver meals to these individuals or helping provide meals.

At Financial One, we encourage you to find a way to give back to your community this holiday season. The list we provided contains some great opportunities to give back, but they are just a few of the many ways you can do so. Check out other great opportunities at Anoka County Online.

Out with the Old- Options to Clean Out Your Closet This Fall

Many people have faced the problem of having new clothes that don’t fit in their closet or dresser because of the accumulation of older clothing items that either don’t fit anymore or just aren’t worn. Often times, making room in the closet for your new clothes can seem time consuming, but there are ways to get rid of the old clothes without simply throwing them out.

One great way to dispose of the unwanted clothes is to donate them. There are many charities throughout the state of Minnesota that are more than happy to take clothing donations. In fact, many charities will even pick up the unwanted clothes from your house. Finding a charity that offers this option is easy. Simply visit donationtown.org and enter your zip code to view the charities in your area that will pick up your unwanted clothes. (They will often pick up other items as well.) Then simply pick the charity you would like to donate to and schedule your free donation pick up.

Another option is to try and sell your unwanted clothes to put a little extra spending cash in your pocket. This is a good option if the clothing is a well-recognized brand name and in good shape. There are several stores across Minnesota that specialize in buying used clothing items from people and reselling them in their stores.

One chain of stores that specializes in young adult clothing is Plato’s Closet. Simply bring in your (or your child’s) brand name clothing and accessories to the nearest Plato’s Closet and they will review your items while you look around the store or run another errand. Clothes Mentor operates in much the same way with designer women’s fashion. After looking over the items you brought in, they will give you an offer based on your clothing’s condition, style, brand, and whether they need items of that type due to their current stock levels, and you will receive cash for your items that day.

Another store that does this is Nu Look Consignment. Currently the Twin Cities Area’s leading family consignment retailer, Nu Look will buy virtually any clothing items as long as they are of quality and are in good shape. From July through December, they buy fall and winter clothing items. Spring and summer items can be sold to Nu Look from January through June.

Whether you choose to donate your old clothes or sell them is entirely up to you, but it shouldn't be stressful. Cleaning out your closet should make you feel accomplished. With these options making room for the new clothes in your closet will be easy, and will leave you with either the good feeling that you donated or a little extra cash in your pocket.

Hops For Hunger

Financial One Credit Union, as well as Southern Anoka Community Assistance (SACA) is proud to present the third annual Hops for Hunger! On Saturday, March 28th, brewers such as Boom Island, Dangerous Man, Fair State Brewing Coop, Sociable Cider Works and many, many more will be in attendance. Tickets are $35 and that cost includes the entry fee as well as tasting samples from all of the vendors that will be in attendance.

Not only will there be plenty of tasty beer to sample, but this event also includes live music from The
Brandon Projekt and Ash St. Johns Music, a silent auction that will include some awesome prizes, and a raffle if you are feeling lucky. Don’t forget to try some of the amazing food from Chowgirls Killer Catering.

The best part of this event is that all proceeds will go to benefit the Southern Anoka Community Assistance food shelf. SACA is a nonprofit that serves the communities of Columbia Heights, Hilltop, Fridley, and Spring Lake Park. In past years, Hops for Hunger has allowed SACA to purchase 175,000 pounds of food! It will again take place at the Solar Arts Building, 711 15th Ave NE, Minneapolis, just upstairs from Indeed Brewing.

Financial One Credit Union is excited to be a part of this event and thank you for supporting SACA. Your help allows them to help our local communities. We look forward to seeing you this Saturday evening at Hops for Hunger III! Purchase tickets here: http://bit.ly/1xd4abr