Branch Manager and Loan Officer Michelle Renkes describes a recent beautification effort by Credit union employees.
“Because 1st Gateway Credit Union employees work in a downtown business on Main Street, we usually park in the City parking lot. One day walking into work, it was noticed the weeds seemed to have taken over a couple of the landscaped areas. We questioned one of the City employees, Crew Leader Mike Garland, and asked if we could weed and landscape the areas affected. He checked with [City Administrator Barry Dykhuizen] and within minutes called us back and said ‘go for it.'”
1st Gateway Credit Union is located at 204 E. Main Street, Morrison, IL.
“A couple of work times were organized with 1st Gateway Credit Union employees from all seven locations. The finished project can be seen in the parking lot.”
Employees spent two days weeding three garden beds in the parking lot. Staff donated plants from their home gardens for the beds on the ends of the lot. Mulch donated by 1st Gateway Credit Union completed the floral project.
Shown weeding at the corner of E. Market Street and IL Route 78, on Friday night, May 31, 2019, left-to-right, are Mary Lindstrom, Leigh Milnes, and Nancy Arians.
Pictured weeding at the corner of E. Market and N. Genesee Streets, on Monday night, June 3, left-to-right, are Deb Luce, Robert Isaacson, Erin Bickford, Tya Boucher, Rich and Jeanne Adams, Michelle Renkes, and Shelley Isaacson (kneeling.) Not shown is volunteer Ken Renkes.
Renkes concluded, “We decided it was a great way to live up to what our 1st Gateway shirts say, Helping in the Community Because we Care!” Employees will continue to weed the beds throughout the summer, Renkes added, as they have “adopted the area.