Sometimes it’s a mystery as to who provides the funds for charitable organizations to do what they do.  One mystery solved: for the third consecutive year the Pawtucket Credit Union (PCU) has donated a total of $15,000 to food pantries and local charities during this holiday season.

“As a good corporate citizen, we believe it’s our duty to lend a hand during times of need,” said PCU spokeswoman Frances DiFiore.  “There are a lot of organizations in our state working extremely hard to improve our communities and help individuals prosper.  In order to experience positive gains they need support from all sectors.”

Those organizations that the $15,000 are given to, each receiving the same slice of the pie, are:

Blackstone Valley Community Action Program, Blackstone Valley Emergency Food Center, Cranston Comprehensive Community Action Program (CCAP), East Bay CAP Pantry, East Greenwich Ecumenical Food Cupboard, Family Service of RI Pantry, Foxboro Food Pantry, North Kingstown Food Pantry, Northern RI Food Pantry, Rhode Island Food Bank, Salvation Army, SVDP Street Phillip Food Pantry, Tri-Town Community Action Program, and Westbay CAP Market Place Food Pantry.

Through PCU’s yearly community giving program, DiFiore said, they’re able to do all different kinds of community outreach programs, including financial literacy education in schools, community investment funds, sponsorships, and grants. 

“During the colder months, the holidays, the agencies are really grateful, they’re very excited,” she said.

This particular holiday grant will help feed Rhode Islanders in need.  The Cranston CCAP, for example, was able to use the funds to help them with their Thanksgiving bags, of which 600 $45 bags were distributed by the organization.