KENNEWICK, Wash.—Sometimes, Santa ditches the sleigh for a police car.
Maisi Ranard receives a $100 bill from HAPO CCU’s Alex Garza.
Two credit unions this year are (very pleasantly) surprising drivers who think they are about to receive a traffic ticket with Christmas gifts, instead.
Among them is HAPO Community Credit Union here, which is partnering with the local police department for the CU’s 12 Days of Christmas program. Employees ride with Kennewick police to find people needing an extra $100 for Christmas. Fifty people will receive the gifts through Dec. 23, the Tri-City Herald reported.
“It is very cool HAPO is letting us do it with them,” Sgt. Ken Lattin told the Herald. “It gets pretty emotional … It is the power of giving. We forget some people are still struggling. This time of year, a lot of people have to decide whether they are going to pay bills or buy gifts. $100 goes a long way.”
Officers decide which drivers receive the money.
“It scared me, but I ‘m grateful it happened,” local resident Maisi Ranard told the newspaper. “I feel really blessed.”
Meanwhile, in Jackson, Mich., for the second year in a row American 1 Credit Union has joined with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and a local Meijer’s store to surprise people who are pulled over for legitimate traffic offenses with some holiday cheer.
During a day of traffic surprises, the credit union, the Sheriff’s Department and the store all combined to provide $6,500 in gifts to local residents. The gifts ranged from iPads to dog treats. The traffic stops took place on roads adjacent to the store.
As was the case in 2015 when the credit union first launched the good deeds promotion, when people are pulled over, deputies’ small talk includes asking if drivers if they had completed their Christmas shopping and what they might still be looking for. Credit union reps inside the Meijer store listen to the conversation, then race to grab items, get them purchased, and delivered to the scene. When the deputy returns with what drivers expect to be a ticket, they receive the gifts, instead.
In addition, this year, with help from Meijer, the credit union funded the program to give 24 families presents and 10 families $100 gift cards.
A video can be found here and embedded on Mlive.com here.
Below, recipients of holiday presents from Sheriff's Department and American 1 CU.
