SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine–Saying it was seeking to underscore its commitment to “local helping local,” Town & Country FCU donated $2,000 to the South Portland School Department to help support the learning needs of the department’s nearly 350 students who do not have permanent housing.
In the 2021-2022 school year, South Portland Schools have seen a huge increase in students meeting the definition of “housing vulnerable,” the credit union said.
In his recent “State of the Schools” address to the South Portland School Board, Superintendent Tim Matheney, spoke of the large uptick in students enrolled in the school system this year who are not just housing vulnerable, but who are from other countries and are new to speaking English, which brings additional learning challenges.
Upon learning of the issues, Town & Country, which has two branches in South Portland, connected with South Portland Schools to determine ways in which it could make a difference and “make a positive impact on helping students have school supplies necessary for learning.” Said Jon Paradise, SVP-communications, marketing and community outreach at Town & Country, “Our philosophy of ‘local helping local’ runs much deeper than just finances – it is a commitment to helping individuals and communities thrive. We have a long history of identifying issues in the communities we serve and working to find solutions. Town & Country believes strongly in the importance of education, especially with our youth, and ensuring that students in K-12 have access to tools and resources to help them succeed in the classroom is an essential part of the learning process.”
Added President and CEO David Libby, “Our roots in South Portland date back to our beginning, so we certainly feel a deep connection to this community. Whether it’s people’s finances or making a difference in people’s lives in other ways, helping is who we are and what we do. It’s a core part of how our credit union approaches our members and all of the communities we serve. We work hard to make a positive impact every day.”