Melinda Hill, second grade teacher at Keenburg Elementary, is the latest Northeast Community Credit

Keenburg Elementary Principal Doug Mitchell reads to Melinda Hill’s classroom.

Union Helping Teachers Teach grant winner.

Hill applied for the Helping Teachers Teach to purchase new, appropriate child-sized seating for her classroom.

“The current seating is various sizes, and with some issues,” Hill said. “Chairs are an extremely hard, thick plastic that does not allow for comfortable seating. The new chairs will allow the students to sit properly using good posture, and this will aid in learning because they will be comfortable. The chairs should last for many years, allowing many students to benefit.”

Northeast Community Credit Union awards $300 every month to a classroom to be utilized for classroom needs, classroom activities, and academic enrichment.  Helping Teachers Teach is open to teachers within Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, Sullivan and Washington counties who are members of Northeast Community Credit Union. Area teachers may become members online or at any NCCU location and can download the grant application on the credit union’s website:  www.BeMyCU.org.

Chris Cook, music teacher at Unaka Elementary, is the latest Northeast Community Credit Union Helping Teachers Teach grant winner.

Cook applied for the Helping Teachers Teach to purchase musical instruments, specifically recorders, for her fourth- and fifth-grade students. Because of current safety protocols, each student is required to have his/her own instrument.

“Learning how to play a recorder with other classmates develops teamwork, discipline and musical skills such as reading notes on the staff and counting rhythms,” Cook said. “Students then have the option to build on their skills with the high school band, both after school and during music classes. Just like learning to ride a bike, playing a musical instrument is a lifetime skill and source of enjoyment.”

Northeast Community Credit Union awards $300 every month to a classroom to be utilized for classroom needs, classroom activities, and academic enrichment. Helping Teachers Teach is open to teachers within Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, Sullivan and Washington counties who are members of Northeast Community Credit Union. Area teachers may become members online or at any NCCU location and can download the grant application on the credit union’s website: www.BeMyCU.org.

 

Northeast Community Credit Union is helping sponsor the TLC Community Center’s Christmas ‘Bundles of Love’ program.

The Bundles of Love program collects items for children in need in the local community; such as hygiene items, school supplies, personal items and small toys. The bundles are distributed based on referrals from local schools and to clients who participate in the TLC Summer Food program.

NCCU donated 1,500 bags to the TLC Community Center to use for the program and will be providing volunteers for the distribution of the gifts. NCCU will also serve as a drop-off location for items for the Bundles of Love.

“Our credit union works hard to help improve the lives of our neighbors –financially and otherwise,” NCCU President/CEO Teresa Arnold said. “There are needs right here where we live, and we’re so pleased to work with TLC Community Center to help wherever we can.”

“There are so many families missing basic essentials in our community,” TLC Director Angie Odom said. “This is about meeting needs in our own hometown.”

NCCU’s Main Office (behind Elizabethton High School) and their Roan Mountain Office will be accepting items for the Bundles of Love, which include shampoo, toothpaste, individually packaged toothbrushes, dental floss, deodorant, soaps, combs, body wash, washcloths, pencils, erasers, notebooks, crayons, socks, gloves, hats, mittens, small toys and other similar items.

The Bundles of Love will be distributed in December to boys and girls aged from toddler to teenager.

Items for the Bundles of Love can be dropped off at either the NCCU Main Office at 980 Jason Witten Way, Elizabethton, or at the NCCU Roan Mountain office at 8301 Highway 19E, in Roan Mountain.

Kathi Hill, fifth grade teacher at Valley Forge Elementary, is the latest Northeast Community Credit Union Helping Teachers Teach grant winner.

Hill applied for the Helping Teachers Teach to purchase the study.com program for her students. Study.com is an interactive video series that allows students to immerse themselves in short, engaging lessons that are produced to Tennessee education standards.

“These lessons would assist me in planning as well as bringing history to life for my students,” Hill said. “It would be an excellent supplement to our textbook.”

Northeast Community Credit Union awards $300 every month to a classroom to be utilized for classroom needs, classroom activities, and academic enrichment.  Helping Teachers Teach is open to teachers within Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, Sullivan and Washington counties who are members of Northeast Community Credit Union. Area teachers may become members online or at any NCCU location and can download the grant application on the credit union’s website:  www.BeMyCU.org.

Kourtney Hamm, first-grade teacher at Lake Ridge Elementary, is the latest Northeast Community Credit Union Helping Teacher’s Teach grant winner.

Hamm is using the grant to help headphones and wireless computer mice for her students to use during class.

“As a first-grade teacher, we have a lot of activities happening simultaneously in the classroom,” Hamm said. “This can make it difficult for children working on their computer or tablet, due to the noise level. This would allow for students to work effectively.”

Northeast Community Credit Union awards $300 every month to a classroom to be utilized for classroom needs, classroom activities, and academic enrichment.  Helping Teachers Teach is open to teachers within Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, Sullivan and Washington counties who are members of Northeast Community Credit Union. Area teachers may become members online or at any NCCU location and can download the grant application on the credit union’s website:  www.BeMyCU.org.

Jennifer Rickert, Instructional Coach at Harold McCormick Elementary, is the latest Northeast Community Credit Union Helping Teacher’s Teach grant winner.

Rickert is using the grant to help purchase books to supplement the school’s Science of Reading program. The program helps students build reading skills through phonics and spelling patterns while also sharing knowledge of the world around them.

“Our youngest learners have been so negatively impacted during their formative years, especially with COVID,” Rickert said. “Many of our students do not have rich exposure to texts to build understanding of our world. They need to encounter rich stories through read alouds.”

Northeast Community Credit Union awards $300 every month to a classroom to be utilized for classroom needs, classroom activities, and academic enrichment.  Helping Teachers Teach is open to teachers within Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, Sullivan and Washington counties who are members of Northeast Community Credit Union. Area teachers may become members online or at any NCCU location and can download the grant application on the credit union’s website:  www.BeMyCU.org.

Northeast Community Credit Union is helping to support students as they prepare for a new school year by sponsoring both of Carter County’s backpack programs.

NCCU donated $1,000 to both of Carter County’s Back to School Bashes. The Back to School Bashes gives away thousands of backpacks filled with school supplies to students in the Carter County and Elizabethton City school systems each year.

Back to School Bash Ministries will host an event this Saturday, July 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hampton High School. The Bash will have free school supplies, food, activities, characters and more. Items will be given away on a first-come, first-serve basis and children must be accompanied by an adult.

The Elizabethton City Schools will be hosting their Back to School Bash on August 6 from 10 a.m. to noon at Elizabethton High School. This bash will have free backpacks, school supplies, snacks, and games and activities on the field for children.

Northeast Community Credit Union will be at each Back to School Bash with special giveaways for students.

Northeast Community Credit Union has been serving the community since October 1952 when it was chartered as a credit union by the State of Tennessee. Northeast Community Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative. It is open to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Carter, Johnson, Washington, Unicoi and Sullivan counties along with their immediate family members.

For more information, visit www.BeMyCU.org.